Kenwood Allen

Serial Killer

Kenwood Allen and the Lower Manhattan Drugging-Robbery Deaths

Overview

Kenwood Allen was accused by New York prosecutors of carrying out a prolonged series of drug-facilitated robberies in Lower Manhattan during 2022. Authorities alleged that Allen deliberately gave victims fentanyl and other opioids so they would become disoriented, unconscious, or physically incapable of resisting while their valuables and financial information were stolen. Five people died during the alleged crime series, leading prosecutors to charge Allen with multiple counts of second-degree murder. Although Allen has sometimes been described as a serial killer because five deaths were attributed to the same alleged pattern of conduct, the criminal case was based on murder charges arising from robberies rather than traditional allegations of killings committed solely for psychological gratification. The deaths were nevertheless linked by prosecutors to a repeated method: approaching people who had been socializing, supplying or administering powerful drugs, taking their possessions, and abandoning them while they were incapacitated. Allen pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations described here came from indictments, court proceedings, police statements, and public reporting. An indictment is an accusation rather than a conviction, and Allen must be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Alleged Drugging and Robbery Scheme

According to Manhattan prosecutors, Allen's suspected criminal activity extended from March 18 through December 18, 2022, and involved 21 victims. He allegedly acted alone during some incidents and worked with other people during others. Prosecutors said many victims had spent the evening drinking or socializing before Allen approached them in or near Lower Manhattan nightlife districts. The victims were allegedly given substances containing fentanyl or other opioids. Once they became severely impaired or unconscious, Allen and his alleged associates took items such as cellular telephones, watches, wallets, credit cards, identification documents, and personal financial information. Stolen cards were allegedly used to make purchases, transfer money, or withdraw cash from automated teller machines. Several surviving victims were reportedly discovered unconscious on sidewalks or streets. Prosecutors alleged that Allen sometimes left victims behind without seeking medical assistance, even when their condition was visibly life-threatening. The extraordinarily high potency of fentanyl made the alleged method especially dangerous because even a small amount could suppress breathing and cause a fatal overdose. ...

Confirmed Victims: (0)
Suspected Victims:

Nurbo Shera Age: (29), Date of Death: 2022-03-18

Ardijan Berisha Age: (26), Date of Death: 2022-07-30

Sadath Ahmed Age: (34), Date of Death: 2022-08-06

Alexander Ridnitsky Age: (26), Date of Death: 2022-07-22

Kathryn Gallagher Age: (35), Date of Death: 2022-07-23

D.A. Bragg: Kenwood Allen Indicted For Three Additional Murders In ...