RICHMOND, Va. — Not every story you read online has a happy or sad ending. Some are just sweet.
Earlier this week, we revealed that the “creepy clown” who scared a driver in Henrico County was in fact a 12-year-old boy with autism. Angus Brown got dressed up in his new Halloween clown costume to surprise his mother upon her return from an out-of-town trip.
Angus’ grandmother was driving the child to his mother’s house in eastern Henrico when he rolled down the window to wave at other cars.
Of course, this all happened at a time when multiple reports of people dressed as creepy clowns were coming in from around the region and the country. Those reports indicated clowns walking around neighborhoods, chasing children, or just being creepy.
While some of those reports turned out to be hoaxes — Angus was really dressed as a creepy clown and waving.
In an effort to quell community fear, the child’s mom went public with her story.
“There was no malicious intent. He’s just a kid excited about his new costume,” Holly Brown told WTVR.com. “He was never a threat, and is in fact a very sweet child with autism and a new found love of Stephen King stories.”
When Brown’s comments posted on the WTVR CBS 6 News Facebook page, many parents appreciated her honesty and willingness to come forward.
Some comments, however, were not so nice.
“With all this craziness about these creepy clowns, why would she allow him to wear that out in public scaring other people and kids. Just dumb,” one comment read.
“Why in the hell would you let your 12 year old wear a Pennywise costume?” another comment read. “There are plenty of non-murderer clowns to dress up as.”
Reading some of the Facebook comments saddened CBS 6 Facebook fan Jessie Mae Miles.
“After seeing all of the hurtful comments about Holly Brown and Angus and his clown costume, it honestly hurt my heart,” the Northside woman said.
Wanting to do something nice for Angus, Jesse contacted a friend who manages a Richmond-based Sugar Shack.
On Thursday, Jesse met Angus and his family to present them with a sweet surprise.
A giant creepy clown doughnut.
“He has a passion for Stephen King movies, just like some kids have passions for cartoons,” Jesse said. “He should enjoy his passion and embrace it. So many people lose their passions or are afraid to go after what they love. I did not want him to lose his passion for Stephen King or Halloween. I wanted them to know that some people have the same passions and that she [Holly] is not a bad mom.”
Holly Brown, who was dismayed with the comments on social media directed at her family, had nothing but praise for Jessie Mae.
“He was tickled,” she said. “Jessie Mae personifies positivity and her kindness made a bad situation have a really fun ending.”
