Three people dressed as clowns were taken into custody Sunday after being found with a possible firearm, Albuquerque police said.

Police spokesman Simon Drobik said officers were dispatched to a call about a "clown sighting" near a kids' clothing store.

Authorities located three juveniles donning clown masks.

Drobik said they were also in possession of what appeared to be a handgun.

The investigation was ongoing.

It's not clear what charges the three could face.

The incident comes amid a rash of hoaxes and threats of scary clown sightings across the nation.

Police in Alamogordo have identified three boys who allegedly haunted a middle school dressed with a clown mask.

Roswell police have urged residents not to dress up as clowns after reports surfaced of clowns with bats walking around the city.