On a September night in 2014, a burst of violence shattered the evening quiet on 41st Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. Michael J. Allen, a 39-year-old Black man, was standing outside his residence with three other people shortly before midnight on Friday, September 19th. The friendly gathering was tragically interrupted when a white Dodge minivan and a silver Nissan sedan drove down the street and occupants from both vehicles opened fire on the group.
In the chaos of the sudden attack, Allen was the only one struck by the gunfire. The three other individuals with him managed to drop to the ground and escape injury. Allen was rushed to the hospital, where he fought for his life for six days before succumbing to his injuries. His death, which occurred six days after the shooting, turned the case into a homicide investigation.
Known to his loved ones as 'Mike,' Michael J. Allen was a father to four children and a grandfather. His sudden and violent death was a profound loss to his family and the community. In the years that have followed, his case has grown cold. Despite the public nature of the shooting, with multiple perpetrators in two vehicles, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with his murder. The Nashville Police Department continues to seek information from the public regarding the unsolved drive-by shooting that claimed the life of Michael J. Allen.
