Ohio man kills wife and daughter in shooting rampage at Cracker Barrel restaurant, police say

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Kevin Allen, 51

/ CBS/WOIO

(CBS/WOIO) BROOKLYN, Ohio - Police say a shooting rampage at a Cracker Barrel restaurant that left three dead was apparently sparked when a woman told her husband she was leaving him.

CBS affiliate WOIO reports the shooting occurred around 9 p.m. Thursday. Authorities say 51-year-old Kevin Allen shot and killed his wife, Katherina, 10-year-old daughter Kerri, and shot and wounded daughter 10-year-old Kayla. Police then shot and killed Allen.

Kayla was transported to Metro hospital and her condition is unknown.

"We were standing right next to him when he shot them," said witness Robert Lovlace. "He was a troubled man, you could see in his face. When the gun went off, we saw the fire come out, we ran, we took off."

Brooklyn's Chief of Police says the incident stemmed from a domestic dispute. The family was at the restaurant celebrating Kerri's 10th birthday.

Police received a 911 call from a woman at the restaurant, saying she had just informed her husband that she was leaving him and that he wasn't taking it well. She told authorities he was in his car and circling the lot.

When police arrived at the scene, they heard gunshots and then saw Allen exiting the restaurant through the front door while holding a gun. Officers ordered him to surrender and he did not comply. Law enforcement reportedly exchanged fire with the gunman before eventually fatally shooting him.

The Associated Press reports that Cracker Barrel spokeswoman Julie K. Davis said in an email from corporate offices in Tennessee that the restaurant will remain closed until the investigation is completed.

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by Kris5037 April 19, 2012 7:46 PM EDT: I want everyone to know, that this was a tragic incident that occured, 2 innocent people lost their lives. First and for most, the relationship was over and this man has many dv cases in his past two previous marriages. He was to be there celebrating the girls birthday, not being a maniac. He knew what he was doing, he chased those girls around the store to kill them, the whole store had to be gutted and re done. Violence can and will occur anywhere and its out of anyones hands when or where it will take place. Instead of leaving these ridiculed messages, why don't you leave a message of hope to the little girl who just lost her mother and sister.; Reply to this comment


by milkchocolate123 April 17, 2012 2:49 PM EDT: are you serious please take your meds and stop speaking terms you do not understand; Reply to this comment

by catwoman1952 April 16, 2012 11:15 AM EDT

I would really like to know, what makes these idiots think they own women?

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by planetearthlooksblue April 16, 2012 9:35 PM EDT: Ego.

by dickblaq April 15, 2012 4:19 PM EDT

Where are all of the racists comments from minorities about how violent white men are bringing this country down? Is this white male considered a "thug"? Did ANYBODY, especially self-appointed racist vigilante neighborhood watch wannabes think this man looked "suspicious" when he walked into the "Cracker" Barrel? Where are all of the comments blaming Obama or "nigs" or "monkeys" or "slaves" or Rev. Al Sharpton or Rev. Jesse Jackson (in other words, Blacks) for this senseless shooting spree by this "hard-working white American"? Do ALL white males wearing red button-down shirts appear "thuggish" now? Where are all of the witnesses that "claim" they saw the dead Mom and daughter bashing the killer's head on the ground just before he shot them? Who is more dangerous, the little Black or Latino boy at school who liked the murdered daughter OR her white father? Where are the photos of the victims so racist minorities can make the AGE of the photos the issue instead of the fact that somebody murdered people? How long do you think THIS incident will remain in the media with its LACK of race-baiting potential? Funny, for a country that was founded by a race of men that nearly exterminated the original people, kidnapped, enslaved and psychologically damaged another people, exploited other peoples that helped build the railway system, allowed another group to come across the border and clean their yards/watch their kids UNTIL they wanted equal pay, NONE OF THESE GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE POSTING HATEFUL COMMENTS!!!!!! God please help the daughter that survived, and will wish she didn't, to make her way in this hateful world.

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by planetearthlooksblue April 16, 2012 9:44 PM EDT: If there were a God, none of this would've happened in the first place. That girl will suffer her whole life. The more I live in this world, the more it becomes apparent that there are quite a number of things that are worse than death.


by Shatara2 April 17, 2012 2:08 PM EDT: Totally agree.


by rcmdblgr April 18, 2012 6:50 AM EDT: Kind of like shooting crackers in a barrel


by mari1963 April 14, 2012 11:50 AM EDT: I think we know why she wanted to leave him.; Reply to this comment


by MIO42 April 14, 2012 2:13 AM EDT: In a perfect world these types of Selfish individuals wouldn't exist

They walk amongst us; Reply to this comment


by MIO42 April 14, 2012 2:08 AM EDT: Let me try and get this straight
Birthday party, Breakup,Guns ,Murder and Cracker Barrel
Not a good fit; Reply to this comment


by UForgotPoland April 13, 2012 11:49 PM EDT: What a lune, glad the police wasted him and saved us some tax dollars at the very least.; Reply to this comment


by bwlewis1964 April 13, 2012 7:49 PM EDT: Another nut with a gun!; Reply to this comment

by dreamymiss100 April 13, 2012 6:01 PM EDT

Is it my imagination, or is this happening at an alarming frequency these days?

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by pak31 April 13, 2012 10:56 PM EDT: It's incredible. I just can't understand why people are freaking out like this, enough to actually want to blow your family away. My goodness, yes it's horrible but it's not the end of the world. At least talk about it, maybe they could have worked things out but this guy was too far gone.