Citizens Intervene in Grocery Store Shooting

Two armed citizens played a crucial role in preventing further violence after a man allegedly shot and killed a woman in a grocery store parking lot.

Allen Thomas Prince now faces one charge of first-degree murder along with several counts of armed criminal action and assault due to the May 25 incident at the Price Chopper in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. According to court documents, a sergeant from the Pleasant Hill Police Department revealed that the two men held Prince at gunpoint following the shooting.

Witnesses reported that as the incident unfolded, one witness was in his vehicle when he saw Prince reach for a rifle from his truck. The witness described watching Prince fire at a woman nearby, who then fell to the ground. The incident escalated as Prince reportedly aimed his weapon at a juvenile pushing shopping carts.

Feeling compelled to act, the witness later noticed another man approaching Prince with a pistol. The witness took his own gun from his truck and confronted Prince until law enforcement arrived.

The police did not respond immediately to inquiries for further details. The weapon involved was identified as a .243 Winchester bolt-action rifle, as noted in the court documents. Pleasant Hill Police Chief Tommy Wright acknowledged the bravery of the citizens who intervened, expressing gratitude for their actions.

“I applaud them,” Chief Wright remarked. “I appreciate people like that being in our community… We think people should protect each other; this is a community that truly exists for each other, and these two men stepped forward to prevent further violence.”

Previously, Prince had faced felony charges for threatening to shoot someone in October 2025, yet he was released on his own recognizance despite police finding a shotgun in his room, according to court records.