On the evening of January 3, 2025, 13-year-old Allen Thomas was inside his home on 13th Street North in Bessemer, Alabama, when gunfire erupted outside. Bullets pierced the house and one struck Allen; he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead from his injuries. Allen was a student at Bessemer Middle School, remembered by teachers and classmates as bright and joyful with an infectious smile.

The Bessemer Police Department opened a homicide investigation and appealed to the public for information to identify who fired the shots. No arrests or public identification of suspects had been announced in the days after the shooting, and the question of who was responsible remained unanswered.

If anyone saw activity near 13th Street North on January 3 or has information that could help the investigation, please come forward to the Bessemer Police Department.