Amy Coon, 45, of Strasburg, Missouri, is at the center of a tragedy that unfolded in the parking lot of a Price Chopper store in Pleasant Hill on May 25, 2026. What started as an ordinary afternoon turned into a scene of chaos that left a community shaken and searching for answers.
Officers with the Pleasant Hill Police Department responded quickly after reports of gunfire outside the grocery store at 2101 N. State Route 7 Highway. When they arrived, they found a rapidly unfolding situation involving multiple people in the parking lot.
Investigators say a 16-year-old from Pleasant Hill was also injured during the incident. The teen was rushed to a nearby hospital and is currently listed in stable condition, according to officials familiar with the case.
Authorities identified the suspect as 27-year-old Allen Prince of Pleasant Hill. He has been charged by the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault.
Police say armed individuals at the scene attempted to step in during the confrontation. The situation escalated further at that point, and the suspect ultimately turned the weapon on himself. He is currently in custody and receiving medical treatment in a hospital intensive care unit.
Amy Coon, a Pleasant Hill native and graduate of Pleasant Hill High School, is being remembered as a deeply rooted member of the community. Family and friends describe her as a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend whose presence carried warmth and loyalty.
Her sudden death has left relatives and neighbors struggling with grief. Those close to her say she was the type of person who stayed connected to people and always showed up for the ones she loved.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials are reviewing surveillance footage, witness statements, and physical evidence to piece together the exact sequence of events that led to the shooting.
The community of Pleasant Hill remains unsettled in the aftermath. Residents are gathering in small groups, sharing memories, and trying to understand how an ordinary stop at a grocery store ended in irreversible loss.
