Illinois teen in clown outfit charged with murder of 78-year-old man

The suspect had “the intent to kill” John Wesley Allen, 78, who was stabbed Monday at a bus stop in East St. Louis, Illinois, officials said.

A teenager accused of stabbing a 78-year-old man to death while dressed as a clown was charged with murder Thursday, and the prosecutor wants to try him as an adult, Illinois officials said.

John Wesley Allen was killed Monday in East St. Louis. He “was waiting at a bus stop when he was stabbed in a random attack by a suspect wearing a clown outfit,” Illinois State Police said.

The 15-year-old suspect, who was arrested after the stabbing, was charged Thursday with a count of first-degree murder, state police said in a statement.

The teenager had “the intent to kill or do great bodily harm” to Allen, who was stabbed “about the body with a knife, thereby causing” his death, according to a court filing by St. Clair County Assistant State’s Attorney Derek Smith.

The state’s attorney is seeking to prosecute the teen as an adult on a first-degree murder charge, according to the court document.