PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — A Pleasant Hill man is facing multiple felony charges after a deadly shooting inside a local grocery store left one woman dead and a teenage employee injured, shaking the small Missouri community.
Authorities said 27-year-old Allen Prince has been charged with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault following Monday afternoon’s shooting at the Price Chopper store in Pleasant Hill.
Investigators identified the victim as 45-year-old Amy Coon of Strasburg. Police said she died after being shot inside the store. A 16-year-old employee, identified only as Ayden, was also injured in the incident and remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Police said Prince later turned the gun on himself and was taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.
During a press conference, Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright spoke emotionally about the loss felt across the community.
“Amy wasn’t just a victim,” Wright said. “She was a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, and someone deeply loved by her family.”
Community members described Coon as kindhearted and well-known in the area. Friends and residents continue to offer support and prayers to her family as they process the tragedy.
According to investigators, two armed men who were nearby stepped in moments after the first shots were fired. Police believe their actions may have helped prevent additional injuries or deaths.
Chief Wright praised the courage shown by the men but declined to publicly identify them.
“This is a community filled with good people willing to protect others,” Wright said. “Their bravery likely prevented further bloodshed.”
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive and whether Prince had any connection to the victims. Police said the shooting currently appears to be a random act, though the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities also confirmed Prince had an outstanding misdemeanor case in Cass County related to a domestic situation and was previously out on bond. Because he remains sedated in the hospital, investigators have not yet been able to interview him.
For many residents, the violence felt unimaginable in a town known for its quiet neighborhoods and close-knit atmosphere. Officials said this marks Pleasant Hill’s first homicide in nearly two decades.
Longtime residents Garry and Delores Ash said the tragedy hit especially close to home because their son works at the same grocery store and personally knew Amy Coon.
“You hear about things like this happening in other places,” Garry Ash said. “But when it happens in your own town, it’s hard to believe.”
Neighbors across Pleasant Hill say the community is now focused on supporting the victims’ families and helping one another heal after the heartbreaking event.
