In the small community of Semmes, Alabama, the life of 53-year-old Dennis Walker Owens came to a sudden and violent end on Friday, February 21, 2025. A man remembered by friends for his infectious love for life, music, and storytelling, Owens was fatally shot in a confrontation that has led to a murder charge and a claim of self-defense.
The man accused of ending Owens' life is 32-year-old Michael Allen, the son of Owens' former girlfriend.
According to the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, the shooting occurred at a residence on Whip Poor Will Ct. South. It was Allen himself who contacted authorities after the incident. In a 911 call, he informed the dispatcher that he had shot his mother's ex-boyfriend, alleging that Owens had been a source of fear for his family and had initiated a physical altercation.
In the recorded call, Allen stated that his mother had ended her relationship with Owens about a month prior and that they had been experiencing harassment since the breakup. On the day of the shooting, Allen claimed Owens arrived at the home and 'tried to fight me, and I shot him.' He was instructed by the dispatcher to wait for law enforcement on the curb, unarmed. Allen informed the operator that the weapon used in the shooting was on the kitchen table.
Following an investigation by the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, Michael Allen was arrested and charged with murder. He was subsequently released from jail after his bond was set at $150,000, with the condition that he wears an ankle monitor.
Friends and family of Dennis Walker Owens remember him as a free-spirited and kind-hearted man with a multitude of passions. A skilled electrician by trade for over three decades, he was also a self-taught guitarist who found joy in 'picking and grinning' with loved ones. He was described as having a green thumb, a love for fishing, and a special connection with children and animals. A GoFundMe page set up to help with his funeral expenses paints a picture of a man who cherished his friends and family and had a knack for turning any occasion into a memorable adventure with his vivid stories.
