06/11/2026
Tragedy and Brave Intervention: Inside the Pleasant Hill, Missouri Shooting
A quiet afternoon in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was shattered on Memorial Day when a gunman opened fire in a busy local grocery store parking lot. The incident left one woman dead and a teenager injured before two-armed citizens stepped in to halt the attack.
The Incident at Price Chopper
Around 4:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, the parking lot of the Pleasant Hill Price Chopper was roughly half to three-quarters full of holiday shoppers. Suddenly, gunfire erupted near the storefront.
• Amy C**n, a 45-year-old local resident who was at the store
to shop, was tragically shot and killed at the scene. A 16-year
old boy was also struck by gunfire.
• Investigators reported that the teenager was hospitalized in
stable condition and is expected to recover, receiving
immense support from local school resource officers and
his family
Anti-Gun Groups Say - Armed Citizens Never Stop Shootings
The loss of life could have been significantly worse if not for the immediate actions of two local men in the parking lot.
Upon hearing the initial shots, both bystanders—who were legally carrying fi***rms—drew their guns and rushed toward the danger.
The two citizens successfully cornered the shooter and held him at gunpoint, effectively neutralizing the threat and stopping him from targeting anyone else. Finding himself trapped by the armed bystanders as law enforcement began converging on the area, the gunman turned his own fi***rm on himself.
Because the citizens acted instantly, the active threat was entirely contained before police officers could even arrive on the scene.
The Suspect, a History of Crisis
The shooter was identified by the Pleasant Hill Police Department as 27-year-old Allen Prince, a former employee of that exact Price Chopper location. Prince survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound and was taken into custody to face trial.
Fi***rm and Charges
The Cass County Prosecutor’s office has formally charged Prince with:
• First-degree murder
• Two counts of first-degree assault
• Three counts of armed criminal action
According to investigators, the fi***rm Prince utilized in the attack was a .243 caliber bolt-action r***e, and is described as a highly versatile, low-recoil fi***rm chambered for the popular .243 Wi******er cartridge. It uses a manual, rotating bolt to load and eject cartridges.
It is widely used by hunters for medium game like whitetail deer, by ranchers for varmints, and for target shooting.
A History of Mental Illness
Court documents and interviews with the suspect's family paint a disturbing picture of a severe, long-term mental health crisis. Prince's family told police his mental stability had been rapidly deteriorating over the last few years, noting that he frequently experienced erratic behavior.
In September prior to the shooting, Prince's family had contacted authorities specifically requesting that he be placed on a 72-hour inpatient psychiatric evaluation. Instead, he was charged with felony harassment. Eight days later, a Cass County judge released Prince on his own recognizance with strict, capitalized bond conditions stating: "DO NOT POSSESS FI****MS."
A Community in Grief
The shooting has profoundly affected the town of Pleasant Hill, marking the municipality's first homicide in 20 years. Neighbors and friends described the profound grief echoing through the town, particularly for the family of Amy C**n.
In the wake of the tragedy, community members organized a vigil to honor Amy C**n's memory, support the wounded teenager, and lean on one another as they process an uncharacteristic act of violence in their hometown.
