A’yanna Allen, a 7-year-old African American girl, tragically lost her life on December 4, 2016, in Salisbury, North Carolina. A’yanna was sleeping at her grandmother's house when she was struck by a hail of bullets. The autopsy revealed that she suffered 20 gunshot wounds, with injuries to her toes, legs, abdomen, back, head, and chest. The cause of death was officially listed as multiple gunshot wounds, and her death was classified as a homicide.
A’yanna was pronounced dead at the scene, while her grandmother, Shirley Robinson, was treated for a gunshot wound to her leg.
The investigation into A’yanna's death revealed that the shooting was connected to another incident that occurred just hours earlier. Sharod R. Mathis, a 22-year-old man, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Firewater restaurant. Authorities believe that the two shootings were related, but no arrests have been made in connection with A’yanna's murder. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest, but the case remains unsolved.
In September 2021, the Salisbury Police Department confirmed that a rifle seized by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was the same weapon used in A’yanna's murder. Despite this development, no further information has been made public, and the investigation is ongoing. A’yanna's family continues to seek justice for her senseless killing, and the community remains hopeful that those responsible will be brought to justice.
