Ernesto Allen

Do you know who murdered Ernesto Allen?
Ernesto Dewayne Allen, a 27-year-old Black man from Durham, North Carolina, was a life lost in a sudden act of violence that continues to await resolution. A resident of Gray Avenue, Ernesto was killed on the evening of Sunday, November 2, 2008, a night that saw two separate fatal shootings in the city. His death left a void in the lives of those who knew him and a lingering question for the community he called home.

The night of the incident unfolded in the East Durham neighborhood. At approximately 9:24 p.m., a Durham police officer who was responding to an unrelated hit-and-run call was flagged down by a man near the intersection of Dowd and Elizabeth Streets. The person urgently reported that a man had been shot. The officer proceeded to the location and discovered Ernesto Allen lying on the curb in front of a residence at 418 Dowd Street. He had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Emergency services were dispatched, and Ernesto was rushed to Duke University Hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead a short time after his arrival.

The Durham Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into Ernesto's death. Officers canvassed the area, speaking with residents who reported hearing several gunshots around the time of the incident. However, the initial search for answers proved difficult. Investigators were unable to obtain a description of a suspect or any vehicle that may have been involved in the shooting. The case was assigned to Investigator A. Gill, who began the painstaking process of piecing together the events that led to the shooting.

In the years following Ernesto's murder, his case has remained open but unsolved. It is now considered a cold case by the Durham Police Department. In an effort to generate new leads, Durham CrimeStoppers announced a cash reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the case. The organization has featured Ernesto's story, hoping to reach someone who might hold the key to resolving the investigation. Callers are able to provide information anonymously. The case remains one of several unsolved homicides from that period in Durham, a painful reminder of unresolved justice for families and the community.

The investigation into the murder of Ernesto Allen is ongoing. No suspects have ever been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made. As of March 2011, authorities were still actively seeking information from the public. More than a decade has passed, but the search for who is responsible continues. Investigators and Ernesto's loved ones still hope that someone will come forward with the crucial piece of information that will finally bring closure.

The Durham Police Department continues to ask for the public's help in solving this case. Anyone with information regarding the shooting of Ernesto Allen is urged to contact Investigator Gill at 919-560-4440, extension 29322, or to submit an anonymous tip to Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200. Callers to CrimeStoppers do not have to give their names and may be eligible for a cash reward.