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Homeowner Arrested For Allegedly Firing Round To Scare Masked Clown In Santa Clarita Valley

SANTA CLARITA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a person wearing a clown costume remained at large after allegedly threatening a Santa Clarita homeowner with a machete.

The incident unfolded Sunday morning in the 25000 block of Via Desca in the Santa Clarita Valley.

It was there that deputies say they received a call about 6 a.m. reporting that an "armed person was threatening a resident."

When they arrived on scene, they learned that the occupant of a home was smoking a cigarette outside his home when he was approached by a person wearing a clown mask.

Authorities allege that the homeowner fired off a round to scare off the clown who he said was trying to break in to his residence.

The homeowner was subsequently arrested on firearms and narcotics charges, officials said.

A few blocks away, another person donning a clown costume was arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools in an unrelated case.

This comes after fears of killer clowns have swept the country on social media with photos of unconfirmed clown sightings and possible hoaxes.

CBS2's Brittney Hopper reported from the scene and spoke to neighbors who said they were startled by the early-morning gunfire.

"At 6:15  heard a gunshot and I  thought maybe it was a car backfiring or something hitting my car," said Jean Martellaro.

Gunfire, clown sightings? She thinks it's all a bit much.

"I;m shocked that this kinda thing would happen here but I know this clown prank is kinda getting out of control," she added.

For other neighbors it's not the clowns they're most worried about.

"I think always before Halloween stuff like this pops up but the fact that someone is shooting a gun in my neighborhood when I'm asleep literally just feet away, it's disturbing," said Ilona Valaika.

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