A Missouri man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting outside a grocery store that left a woman dead and a teenage employee injured, an incident authorities describe as the town’s first homicide in nearly two decades.
Charges Filed in Deadly Incident
Allen Prince, 27, of Pleasant Hill, faces charges of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault, according to local officials. The shooting occurred Monday afternoon in the parking lot of the Price Chopper grocery store.
Victims Identified
The woman killed has been identified as Amy Coon, 45, of Strasburg, Missouri. Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright expressed condolences, stating, “Amy’s not just a victim. She was a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, and someone who cared deeply for her family.”
A 16-year-old boy, who began working at Price Chopper in March, was also shot and is in stable condition at a local hospital. The teenager’s mother told KCTV, “This was his first job. I’m hoping it’s not going to traumatize him from wanting to go back to work.”
Suspect’s Condition and Intervention
Prince remains in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit after turning the gun on himself. He is sedated, so police have not been able to interview him. Two armed citizens intervened shortly after the gunfire began, a move Wright said may have prevented further bloodshed. The men approached Prince before he turned the gun on himself. Wright praised their bravery, saying, “This is a good town, a safe town, and because we have people who are brave and courageous, I’m thankful for that.”
Investigation Ongoing
Police have not established a motive, and investigators found no initial connection between Prince and the victims. Wright described the shooting as a random, isolated incident. At the time, Prince was out on bond for an outstanding misdemeanor charge in Cass County related to a domestic situation.
Price Chopper released a statement confirming the shooting occurred in the store’s parking lot, expressing that it was “a heartbreaking day for everyone involved” and offering thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.
