What began as an ordinary Memorial Day afternoon at a Pleasant Hill grocery store ended in tragedy for one local family.

Police say a 45-year-old woman died during a May 25, 2026, shooting in the parking lot of the Price Chopper on North State Route 7. A teenager was also injured, and a Pleasant Hill man has since been charged with murder.

According to a statement from the Pleasant Hill Police Department (PHPD), emergency personnel responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 4:28 p.m. at the store located at 2101 N. State Route 7 Highway.

Authorities initially confirmed that three people had been shot during the incident. Police said the suspect was taken into custody and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Additional details released the following day provided a clearer picture of both the shooting and the people whose lives were forever changed by it.

What Police Say Happened

In another police update, the Cass County Prosecutor’s Office charged 27-year-old Allen Prince of Pleasant Hill with first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of first-degree assault.

Police identified Amy Coon as the victim who died in the shooting. Authorities also said a 16-year-old Pleasant Hill resident was injured and remained in stable condition at a local hospital.

Investigators determined that two legally armed individuals who were in the parking lot confronted the suspect during the incident. According to police, the suspect then turned the firearm on himself. Prince remains hospitalized in intensive care and is being held without bond.

The PHPD is leading the investigation with assistance from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

While investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting, many residents have been focused on remembering the woman whose death has left the community reeling.

Family and Friends Remember Amy Coon

Police described Coon as a Pleasant Hill native, a 1999 graduate of Pleasant Hill High School, and a mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend to many.

According to her obituary, she later earned a bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University and built a career that included jobs at Dollar General, High Quality Plastics, and Whitey’s Restaurant before joining Marsh McLennan Aviation Insurance Agency in Lee’s Summit.

For the past 12 years, she worked for the company while remaining closely connected to family and friends in the Pleasant Hill area.

Family members said Coon enjoyed sewing, crafting, antiquing, gardening, and home improvement projects. She also loved watching crime shows and spending time with her pets, including her dog, Levi, and her kitten, French Fry.

But those closest to her said family always came first. Her obituary describes her as a “mother hen” who cared deeply for the people around her.

She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren, Porter and Bellamy, often planning sleepovers and special activities with them.

Those who knew Coon say her death was especially difficult to process because she had already overcome challenges that many believed would be the hardest chapter of her life.

Amy Coon Had Already Beaten Cancer Once

Coon’s obituary notes that she remained devoted to her loved ones throughout years of cancer treatment.

Neighbor Richard Dale told the Kansas City Star that Coon was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years ago and spent about a year undergoing treatment before successfully beating the disease.

Despite the setback, he said she remained optimistic and focused on the future.

“She fought cancer for about a year,” Dale told the newspaper. “She beat it. She was cancer free for about a year. About three or four months ago, it came back. She was going to treatment again.”

Dale continued, “I talked to her off and on. She said, ‘It’s going fine. It’s going fine.’ She was prepared to beat it a second time.” As news of Coon’s death spread through the community, relatives described the loss as sudden and heartbreaking.

Family Seeks Support After Unexpected Loss

In a Facebook post, Courtney Thomas said the Pleasant Hill community had been “devastated by a tragic shooting” on Memorial Day and described Coon as “an innocent bystander whose life was taken far too soon.”

Thomas said Coon’s death was completely unexpected and remembered her as a loving mother, daughter, and grandmother who cherished watching her grandchildren grow up.

She also thanked community members for their prayers, support, and donations as the family prepared for the difficult days ahead.