Four Oaks Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, June 3, 1977
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 4 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 3, 1977
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life; paroled
Patrolman Allen was shot and killed when he stopped a suspicious vehicle on I-95 one mile north of Four Oaks. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Allen, the driver of the vehicle had minutes earlier murdered another man during a robbery.
As Patrolman Allen asked the driver for his identification and registration, the man produced a .38 caliber revolver and shot him in the stomach. The man then shot Patrolman Allen in the back several times as he lay on the ground.
The suspect and an occupant of the vehicle fled the scene but were later apprehended. The accomplice was sentenced to 32 years in prison. He died in prison on January 17th, 1989. The suspect who shot Patrolman Allen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. The shooter served 28-1/2 years of the life sentence before being paroled in October 2006.
Patrolman Allen was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a Bronze Star recipient. He had served with the Four Oaks Police Department for only four months. He was survived by his wife and 1-year-old son.