Creepy Clown Arrested For The Massacre Of 18 People? Let's Do A Fact Check

#1 "A "creepy clown" was arrested after massacring 18 individuals in a haunted house attraction."

With a headline like that, it's no wonder that people fell for this hoax that began circulating in October of 2016. But where did the story come from? Who could have thought of something so sinister yet outrageous? That is what we are going to discuss today.

#2 Now8News

This is obviously fake news. So where did this devious fake news story originate? In October 2016, Now8News (A website that is known for posting hoax news stories disguised as a real news website.) posted the original version of this fake story. With the tagline that a creepy clown had killed 18 people inside a haunted attraction, a viral story was born. Soon several other sites copied the story and it grew from there.

You can see read the entire hoax story next.

#3 Actionnews3.com is responsible for the latest revival of the hoax.

The story starts out legit enough saying:

"Salem, MA – Creepy Clown Arrested After Haunted House Massacre: A 58-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening after fright junkies got way more than they bargained for at a haunted house attraction in Salem, Massachusetts. The ‘Fright Night Horror Massacre’ haunted house was it in its third year of production when last evenings haunted house goers stumbled across a horrific scene."

#4 The man in question is actually a criminal who was involved in a much less serious crime.

It didn't take long for the story to get to a very bizarre and downright gory part:

"Eyewitnesses say they were halfway through the macabre haunted house when they came across a scene of a crazy looking man dressed as a clown with a chainsaw. At first, it was just another scene of the haunted house, but as they look closer they saw one of the bodies move and then scream for his life. The young boy, approximately 19 years of age, was already partially dismembered by the man dressed in a gruesome clown costume."

#5 The story plays on the fact that lots of people are afraid of clowns.

The story then reaches its climax with the "hero" of the story, telling his side of things:

"According to reports, once the group of freight goers realized this was not part of the haunted house, they decided to take action. Trevor Mills had no second thoughts about taking action immediately. 'I pulled out my gun and drew on that sick ass creepy clown,' said Mills. 'I got about a foot away from him and shot him once in the leg, and again in the shoulder. Just enough to make him stop until police arrived.'"

#6 Originally the story was released at the height of the "creepy clown" craze that swept the country.

The story ends with the police showing up and arresting the fictitious villain:

"Police and emergency response teams arrived on the scene within minutes, but unfortunately it was too late for the 18 bodies they found scattered throughout the ‘Fright Night Horror Massacre’ maze. The young man, who alerted the crowd screaming in pain, was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died of his injuries. Police took 58-year-old Curtis Langley into custody where he is currently being held without bond in solitary confinement under mental evaluation."

#7 Now8News and other sites like it get paid every time you click their links.

Just like all other Now8News content, this story was completely made up. If an event like this had actually happened, there is no way that major news networks would not have covered it. The mugshot of the "killer clown" featured in the article could be found online as far back as 2013. The ambulance and haunted house background are stock photos that were doctored together.

#8 Tips to avoid fake news.

Should you run across an article that makes sensational claims that seem to be too good to be true, it's likely that they are false claims. But here is what you can do to find out if it's true or avoid it.

Consider the source: If the source isn't a reputable one, it's probably fake.

Google it: When you google the story, if it doesn't show up on other legitimate sources, it's probably fake.

Check Snopes: While Snopes isn't always right and has been proven to spread hoaxes in the past, they are generally correct when they say something is fake.

As a rule of thumb, if you think it's fake, it probably is. Research to make sure before you spread lies that could incite panic.

When you first saw the creepy clown murder story what did you think? Did you believe the story or see your friends sharing it online? Did you check other sites to see if they mentioned it happening or check the news? Let us know what you think in the comments and please have a safe and happy Halloween.