Shaquan Markell Allred, a 23-year-old African American male and veteran of the U.S. Army, tragically lost his life on March 14, 2020, in Killeen, Texas. He was one of three victims in a triple homicide that took place in an apartment at the Summerlyn complex on East Rancier Avenue. The other victims were 23-year-old Army Specialist Freddy Beningo Delacruz Jr.
and 22-year-old Asia Cline, who was Delacruz's pregnant girlfriend.
The investigation into the murders led to the arrest of Barnard Lnell Morrow, a 23-year-old Army veteran who had served for about a year before separating from the Army in August 2019. Morrow was arrested in Newton, Mississippi, in August 2020 and later transferred to Bell County Jail in Texas. He was charged with capital murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole due to the multiple victims.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking Morrow to the crime scene, including shell casings found at the apartment that matched a gun allegedly stolen by Morrow. Despite Morrow's denial of being present at the apartment during the shootings, the jury found him guilty of capital murder in April 2022. The mother of one of the victims expressed her pain and forgiveness during the trial, highlighting the emotional toll the case had on the families involved.
The tragic loss of Shaquan Markell Allred, along with his friends, has left a lasting impact on their loved ones and the community. The case serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of seeking justice for the victims.
