Allen Prince Appears in Cass County Court Following Memorial Day Shooting
CASS COUNTY, Mo. — Allen Prince, the 27-year-old man charged in connection with the Memorial Day shooting outside the Pleasant Hill Price Chopper, made his first court appearance Wednesday in Cass County Circuit Court. Prince appeared by video from the Cass County Jail after being released from a local hospital earlier this week.
Prince faces one count of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of armed criminal action stemming from the May 25 shooting that left 45-year-old Amy Coon dead and seriously injured a 16-year-old Price Chopper employee. Prosecutors allege Prince opened fire in the grocery store parking lot before turning the rifle on himself.
According to investigators, two armed citizens confronted Prince during the incident, actions police believe may have prevented additional casualties.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Prince entered a not-guilty plea to all charges. The appearance came days after authorities announced he had been released from the hospital and transferred to the Cass County Jail, where he is being held without bond.
Court records show Prince was already facing a separate harassment case from September 2025. In that case, he had been released on bond with conditions that prohibited him from possessing firearms and required him to obey all laws.
The shooting shocked the Pleasant Hill community and marked the city’s first homicide in nearly two decades. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive, and investigators continue to examine whether there was any connection between Prince and the victims.
A future court hearing has been scheduled for July 15 in Cass County. Prosecutors continue to pursue the charges while the investigation remains ongoing.