By Tim Binnall
In a wild story out of Atlanta, a man claims that he recently had a terrifying encounter with a machete-wielding clown that chased him down the street. According to a local media report, the bizarre incident occurred earlier this month when the unnamed witness left his apartment for a walk. Alas, the normally routine afternoon stroll took an unsettling turn with the sudden appearance of what he described as "a well-dressed man with a clown mask and a tricycle." Like a scene out of a horror movie, the haunting harlequin initially appeared mirthful, making some fanciful maneuvers. However, the unsettling stranger quickly became menacing when it began suddenly venturing towards the astounded witness.
"I'm literally thinking it's a prank," the man explained, though his suspicions soon turned to concern when the approaching clown revealed a machete. At that point, the witness said, "I was scared for my life" as the weapon-wielding harlequin managed to get to within a few feet and started swinging the sword at him. Incredibly, the showdown escalated even further as the man just so happened to be armed as well. "I pulled out my gun and said, 'Please leave me alone,'" he recalled, lamenting that the firearm did little to dissuade the persistent stranger. "He still came after me," the man told the local TV station, which led to him fleeing the scene with the clown in hot pursuit.
The chase brought the pair to a busy street where the man managed to escape the machete-wielding weirdo who was nearly hit by a car. While one might find the extraordinary tale hard to believe, others in the neighborhood have also reported encountering the unhinged harlequin, leading to a warning about the clown being issued by multiple area apartment complexes. Meanwhile, authorities are also investigating the matter. Looking back on the unnerving experience, the man marveled that he managed to escape the close encounter with the clown unscathed. One imagines the harlequin might feel the same way considering that the jester was staring down the barrel of a gun that the witness commendably opted not to fire.