PLEASANT HILL, Mo. — A quiet Wednesday afternoon in this tight-knit western Missouri community was shattered by violence that has left a family without a matriarch, a teenager recovering from wounds, and a suspect facing the most serious charges under Missouri law. The shooting on May 25, 2026, at the Price Chopper grocery store located at 2101 N. State Route 7 Highway has not only claimed the life of 45-year-old Amy Coon of Strasburg, Missouri, but has also forced residents of Pleasant Hill to confront an unthinkable reality: that a routine errand could end in tragedy.
The Victim: A Life Rooted in Community
Amy Coon was no stranger to the Pleasant Hill area. Born and raised in this Cass County town of roughly 8,000 residents, she graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1999 — a fact that has since become a rallying point for former classmates who remember her as a warm, steady presence in the hallways and bleachers. After graduation, she married, started a family, and eventually settled in nearby Strasburg, a small unincorporated community about 10 miles south, where she dedicated herself to raising her children and, more recently, doting on her grandchildren.
Those who knew her best describe a woman who thrived on connection. “Amy was the kind of person who would show up with a casserole before you even asked,” said longtime friend Jessica Harlan, who attended high school with Coon. “She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, the name of your pet. She made you feel seen. That’s why this hurts so much — because she saw everyone.”
Coon is survived by her children, her parents, siblings, and several grandchildren. In the days following the shooting, her family released a statement through a spokesperson: “Our hearts are shattered. Amy was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend to so many. She was the glue that held our family together. We ask for privacy as we grieve, but we want the world to know: she was not a victim of circumstance. She was a person full of love, laughter, and purpose.”
The Incident: A Timeline of Chaos
According to the Pleasant Hill Police Department, officers received the first 911 calls at approximately 2:17 p.m. on May 25, 2026. Callers described the sound of multiple gunshots coming from the parking lot of the Price Chopper — a busy retail anchor at the intersection of N. State Route 7 Highway and MO-7, directly across from a gas station and fast-food outlets.
Initial reports were chaotic. Some callers believed an active shooter was entering the store; others said the violence was confined to the asphalt outside the main entrance. Responding officers arrived within four minutes, a response time Police Chief Michael Gray called “commendable but heartbreakingly insufficient to prevent loss of life.”
Investigators now believe the following sequence occurred: Amy Coon had just exited her vehicle in the Price Chopper parking lot, likely intending to pick up groceries for her family. At some point, she encountered 27-year-old Allen Prince of Pleasant Hill. What sparked the interaction remains under investigation, but within seconds, Prince allegedly produced a firearm and opened fire.
Coon was struck at least once and collapsed near the driver’s side of her car. A 16-year-old juvenile from Pleasant Hill — whose name has been withheld due to age and pending family notifications — was also caught in the line of fire. The teen sustained at least one gunshot wound but was able to call for help before collapsing behind a shopping cart corral.
The Intervention Attempt
Witnesses report that two armed individuals who were legally carrying firearms in the parking lot — Missouri is a permitless carry state — saw the shooting unfold and drew their weapons in an attempt to intervene. “They weren’t looking for a fight,” said Detective Laura Simmons of the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, speaking on condition of not being officially quoted. “They were trying to stop a killing.”
However, rather than de-escalating the situation, the presence of two additional armed civilians appears to have triggered a critical escalation. According to law enforcement sources close to the investigation, suspect Allen Prince turned his attention briefly toward the two intervenors. Instead of continuing to fire at bystanders, Prince then turned the firearm on himself, inflicting a self-inflicted wound.
“We are still analyzing surveillance footage from the Price Chopper, from neighboring businesses, and from doorbell cameras across the street,” Simmons added. “But the current working theory is that the suspect’s self-inflicted injury occurred immediately after he realized he was outnumbered and cornered.”
Prince was found lying on the pavement, still gripping the weapon, with a severe wound. Officers secured the scene, rendered medical aid, and summoned emergency medical services.
The Aftermath: Hospitalizations and Legal Proceedings
All three individuals — Amy Coon, the 16-year-old juvenile, and suspect Allen Prince — were transported to separate area hospitals. Coon was pronounced dead on arrival at Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville at 3:01 p.m. The cause of death was listed as a single gunshot wound to the torso, with internal hemorrhaging.
The 16-year-old juvenile remains at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, where a spokesperson confirmed the patient is in stable condition as of the latest update. The teen’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, though psychological trauma is expected to require extensive counseling.
Allen Prince, meanwhile, was initially transported to Belton Regional Medical Center before being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) at Research Medical Center in Kansas City. Law enforcement sources confirm Prince is hospitalized in stable but guarded condition, with injuries consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot. He remains under police guard, and as of May 28, 2026, he has not yet been well enough to attend an initial court hearing.
Despite his hospitalization, the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office moved swiftly. On May 26, Prosecutor Ben Butler announced formal charges against Prince: First Degree Murder (for the death of Amy Coon), three counts of Armed Criminal Action (stemming from the use of a firearm in the commission of felonies), and two counts of First Degree Assault (one for the 16-year-old juvenile and one for an unidentified third individual who was nearly struck by gunfire, according to witness statements).
“The defendant is accused of intentionally and deliberately taking the life of Amy Coon,” Butler said during a brief press conference. “These charges reflect the severity of that act and the danger posed to the entire community. We will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of Missouri law.”
Prince is being held without bond. If convicted of First Degree Murder, he faces a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty, as Missouri allows capital punishment for certain aggravated murders.
Community in Mourning
The shooting has left Pleasant Hill reeling. On the evening of May 25, a spontaneous vigil formed at the flagpole outside Pleasant Hill High School, Coon’s alma mater. By May 26, a more formal memorial had been erected at the Price Chopper parking lot — flowers, stuffed animals, handwritten notes, and a framed photograph of Coon smiling at what appears to be a family barbecue.
“I never thought something like this would happen here,” said Mark Tinsley, a 35-year resident who lives two blocks from the store. “We’ve had break-ins, fights, but not murder. Not like this. And Amy? She used to come into my shop every Saturday. She bought birdseed. That’s who she was — a birdseed lady. Kind. Normal. Gone.”
Local businesses lowered flags to half-staff. The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce announced a fundraiser for Coon’s family, as well as a separate fund to cover counseling services for witnesses, especially the Price Chopper employees who saw the shooting unfold.
Price Chopper corporate released a statement: “We are heartbroken by the senseless violence that occurred in our Pleasant Hill parking lot. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Amy Coon, and we pray for the full recovery of the injured teenager. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and have made our internal security footage available to investigators.”
The Ongoing Investigation
Multiple agencies are involved in the active investigation, including the Pleasant Hill Police Department (lead agency), the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol (providing crime scene analysis and ballistics). Officials say they are still working to establish a complete timeline, including where Prince was immediately before arriving at Price Chopper and whether he had any prior contact with Coon.
As of this report, no motive has been publicly identified. Neighbors of Allen Prince described him as a “quiet, keep-to-himself” type who lived alone in a rental house on the outskirts of Pleasant Hill. Court records show no prior felony convictions, though a 2021 misdemeanor peace disturbance charge was dismissed after Prince completed anger management classes.
“We’re looking at his digital footprint, his social media, his employment history — everything,” a law enforcement source said. “We owe it to Amy Coon and her family to find out why this happened. But right now, the ‘why’ is secondary to the fact that a 45-year-old mother is dead.”
Remembering Amy Coon
In the midst of grief and ongoing investigation, those who loved Amy Coon have chosen to remember her not for the violence of her final moments, but for the decades of kindness that preceded them.
Her sister, Jennifer Coon-Miller, shared a private tribute on social media that has since been shared hundreds of times: “Amy taught me how to braid hair, how to change a tire, how to forgive. She was the first person I called when I got my first job, when I had my first child, when I was diagnosed with cancer. She was there. Always. And now she’s gone because someone brought a gun to a grocery store parking lot. I don’t understand. I may never understand. But I will spend the rest of my life making sure my children and grandchildren know who she was.”
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Coon’s cousins has already raised over $30,000 for funeral expenses and a trust fund for her grandchildren. The family has announced a public memorial service will be held on June 2, 2026, at the Pleasant Hill High School auditorium, followed by a private burial.
Moving Forward
As Pleasant Hill begins the slow work of healing, officials urge anyone with information about the May 25 shooting to contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department tip line. The investigation remains active, and further updates — including Prince’s first court appearance once he is released from ICU — will be released publicly.
For now, the community clings to one another. A local church has opened its doors for nightly prayer gatherings. A candlelight vigil is planned for May 30 at City Park. And at the Price Chopper, employees have hung a small sign in the window: “In loving memory of Amy Coon. We are heartbroken. Be kind to each other.”
In loving memory of Amy Coon — a devoted mother, grandmother, and cherished member of the Pleasant Hill and Strasburg communities. Born 1981. Graduated Pleasant Hill High School, 1999. Died May 25, 2026. She will not be forgotten.
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