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11h ago

15-Year-Old Detained After Elderly Man Found Stabbed in East St. Louis

Authorities are collecting doorbell and other surveillance footage to link a masked teen seen in a clown costume to the killing and to determine motive.

A 15-year-old was taken into custody after authorities found a body in a roadway in East St. Louis, Illinois. Investigators have not identified the victim or released a cause of death as the investigation continues. (LAURA FLEMING/RING/CNN/CNN Newsource/Laura Fleming/RING)
15-year-old wearing clown costume taken into custody after body found in road: police (Screenshot from video courtesy of CNN Newsource via Laura Fleming/RING)
The teen was filmed on a Ring doorbell camera less than an hour before a man was found stabbed to death.
A 15-year-old was taken into custody after authorities found a body in a roadway in East St. Louis, Illinois. Investigators have not identified the victim or released a cause of death as the investigation continues. (LAURA FLEMING/RING/CNN/CNN Newsource/Laura Fleming/RING)

Overview

  • Police responded to a report of a body in the roadway in East St. Louis Monday night and later identified the victim as John Wesley Allen Sr., who died of multiple stab wounds, the coroner said.
  • Doorbell and security camera clips timestamped about 9:11 p.m. showed a masked person in a clown costume speaking near a home less than an hour before the body was found.
  • Neighbors told reporters they saw a teenager roaming the neighborhood carrying and twirling a large knife before investigators located and took a 15-year-old into custody at a nearby residence.
  • Illinois State Police said they are collecting all relevant video evidence, would not publicly identify the juvenile because of age, and told the public there is no ongoing threat.
  • Investigators have released few details about motive or charges and are urging anyone with surveillance or information to contact authorities as the probe continues.