William "Okie" Bevins and the Allen, Kentucky Mass Murder (1981)
William "Okie" Bevins was a 70-year-old retired coal miner from Printer, Kentucky, who carried out one of the deadliest mass shootings in Kentucky history. On October 16, 1981, Bevins entered the Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store in Allen, Floyd County, Kentucky, armed with an automatic rifle. Without warning, he opened fire on the men inside the business. Eight people were shot during the attack. Five died from their injuries, while three others survived with serious gunshot wounds.
Background
Investigators determined that the shooting was motivated by a long-running personal dispute involving Roger Click and Click's wife, Katie Sue Click. Court testimony stated that Bevins had maintained a years-long sexual relationship with Katie Sue Click, and evidence presented during the case suggested the relationship had deteriorated, leading to anger and resentment. Prosecutors concluded that Roger Click was the primary intended target, while the remaining victims were shot because they were present and could identify the gunman. After the shooting, Bevins drove back to his home in Printer, Kentucky, disposed of the rifle by throwing it into a well, and was arrested without resistance while sitting on his front porch. He initially claimed to have no memory of the shootings.
The Shooting
The attack occurred during normal business hours on October 16, 1981, at the Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store in Allen, Kentucky. Bevins entered the store carrying an automatic rifle and immediately began firing at the men inside. The shooting happened within moments, leaving multiple victims dead or critically wounded. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but five victims were pronounced dead. Three wounded men survived after receiving medical treatment.
Victims
- Roger Dale Click, age 28 – Killed on October 16, 1981, at Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store, Allen, Kentucky.
- Roger Hatfield, age 34 – Killed on October 16, 1981, at Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store, Allen, Kentucky.
- Michael Joe Halbert, age 28 – Killed on October 16, 1981, at Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store, Allen, Kentucky.
- Jarvey Hamilton, age 28 – Killed on October 16, 1981, at Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store, Allen, Kentucky.
- Rufus Hamilton, age 42 – Killed on October 16, 1981, at Mountain Auto-Truck Parts Store, Allen, Kentucky.
- Three additional men were seriously wounded during the attack and survived. Their names are less consistently reported in historical public sources.
Investigation and Arrest
Following the shooting, investigators rapidly identified Bevins as the suspect. He had returned to his residence in Printer, Kentucky, where officers found him sitting calmly outside. Authorities recovered the murder weapon after learning that Bevins had thrown it into a hand-dug well. Witness testimony, physical evidence, and Bevins' own actions after the shooting strongly connected him to the crime.
Trial and Sentence
Bevins was charged with five counts of murder and additional charges for the shootings that seriously injured the surviving victims. During the trial, after hearing testimony describing the crime scene and the victims, he withdrew his not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to all charges. The trial court sentenced him to death. His conviction and sentence were later reviewed on appeal. Although the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the convictions, Bevins' death sentence was ultimately commuted to life imprisonment following changes affecting death penalty cases during that period.
Death
William "Okie" Bevins remained imprisoned for the remainder of his life. He died in prison in 1989. The Allen shooting remains one of Kentucky's most notorious mass murders because of the number of victims, the apparent personal motive behind the attack, and the fact that several innocent bystanders were shot simply because they witnessed the crime.
