James Howard Allen, a 74-year-old African American Army veteran, died on February 7, 2015, in Gastonia, North Carolina, after police forced entry during a welfare check requested by a relative. Allen had recently been released from the hospital following heart surgery. Officers initially knocked and left, then returned that night with firefighters and EMS and broke down the door at about 11:30 PM. Officer Josh Lefevers entered through the back door and encountered Allen holding a gun. Lefevers instructed Allen to lower the weapon; Allen did not comply and the gun was reportedly pointed in the direction of officers. Lefevers fired one shot that fatally wounded Allen.

Family and friends said Allen may have thought someone was breaking in and grabbed a gun because he was disoriented after surgery; his sister Mary Battle and friend Otis Thompson called the death devastating and said the situation could have been handled differently. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry and Officer Lefevers was placed on administrative leave.