In the small town of Allen, Kentucky, a tragedy unfolded on October 16, 1981, that would leave a lasting scar on the community. Garvey Hamilton, a 28-year-old African American male, was one of five men whose lives were cut short in a hail of gunfire at the Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store. The devastating event sent shockwaves through the quiet town, forever altering the lives of those involved.
On that fateful day, a gunman entered the auto parts store and opened fire with what was described as an Army-type automatic. 30-caliber weapon. The attack resulted in the deaths of Hamilton, Rufus Hamilton, Roger Hatfield, Roger Click, and Michael Joe Halbert. The sudden and violent nature of the act left the community in a state of shock and mourning.
Law enforcement quickly identified a suspect, 70-year-old William O. Bevins of Printer, Kentucky. He was apprehended at his home shortly after the shooting and was taken into custody without resistance. Bevins was subsequently lodged in the Floyd County Jail in Prestonsburg. While the exact motive for the mass shooting was not immediately clear, it was reported that Bevins had been involved in a dispute with Roger Click, one of the other victims.
