In the spring of 2008, the burgeoning career of a New Orleans rapper was violently cut short. Michael Allen, a 32-year-old male known in the music world as VL Mike, was fatally shot on the afternoon of April 20th. The incident occurred in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans, specifically in the 4700 block of Miles Drive. Allen had just arrived at the location and was exiting his vehicle shortly before 1 p.m.
when an assailant approached and opened fire.
Emergency services transported Allen to University Hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead a short time later. His death marked a grim statistic for the city, becoming its seventh homicide in a span of just four days. At the time of his death, Allen was a father, leaving behind a daughter.
Michael Allen was at a pivotal point in his career as a rapper and MC. He had gained a measure of success as a member of the group the Chopper City Boyz. However, a professional disagreement with the group's leader, B.G., led to his departure. Following the split, Allen embarked on a solo career and had released a 'diss track' aimed at his former collaborator.
Despite the public nature of his feud within the music industry, the motive for Michael Allen's murder remains a mystery. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect or made any arrests in the case. Over the years, his killing has grown cold, leaving his family without answers and his killer or killers at large. The broad-daylight shooting of the aspiring rapper remains an unsolved chapter in the history of New Orleans crime.
