Illinois State Police arrested a 15-year-old suspect Tuesday in connection with the death of an elderly neighbor in East St. Louis. Officers had responded to reports of a body in the road at an intersection shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday.
The victim was identified by the St. Clair County Coroner as 78-year-old John Wesley Allen Sr. He was pronounced dead at the scene just before 11:30 p.m.
Doorbell camera footage shared by a local resident showed a masked teenager dressed as a clown appearing to go door-to-door. In the hushed clip, the figure appears to whisper, "I've got a gift for you" or "I've been looking for you."
State police said video footage of the suspect in the clown costume had been circulating and that they were collecting relevant video. The teenager was quickly identified and apprehended at a nearby home.
Law enforcement stated that there is no further threat to the public. As of Thursday afternoon, no charges had been publicly announced against the suspect.
One resident, Lora Palmer, whose mother was home at the time, said the teenager remained on their property for several minutes before moving to the back of the house. Palmer expressed concern that the teen might be armed and could harm her mother.
Another neighbor, Corrine Spry, reported seeing the individual twirling a knife. Spry indicated that the suspect appeared to roam the area for approximately 45 minutes before law enforcement arrived, raising fears that anyone in the neighborhood could have been targeted.
The intersection where Allen was found is approximately a 10-minute walk from where the doorbell camera footage was recorded.