Mahopela Allen Jr., a 24-year-old Black man, was fatally shot on the evening of July 30, 2014, in Berkeley, Missouri. He and a female companion were parked at Short Avenue and Washington Avenue when a friend climbed into the back seat and asked Allen to turn on the interior light. When the light came on two individuals approached the vehicle and opened fire. Allen attempted to drive away but was struck and crashed into a parked car; he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The female passenger was shot and survived.

Investigative efforts were hindered almost immediately: Berkeley police resources were diverted to the unrest in neighboring Ferguson following the shooting of Michael Brown, contributing to delays. Mahopela’s mother, Shauntay McCollough, has said the probe showed little progress and that important case files were lost during a switch to a new electronic records system. No arrests have been announced and the case remains unsolved; a reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

If anyone has information about the shooting at Short Avenue and Washington Avenue on July 30, 2014, please come forward to assist investigators.