Quincy Allen
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Columbia, South Carolina
TIME PERIOD
July - August 2002
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Quincy Jovan Allen, an American serial killer, committed a series of murders between July and August 2002 across South Carolina and North Carolina, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. His crime spree began on July 7, 2002, with an attempted murder of a homeless man in Columbia, followed by the murder of Dale Evonne Hall on July 10, 2002, where he also attempted to destroy evidence by burning the body. On August 8, 2002, Allen fatally shot Jedediah Harr during a confrontation and subsequently set fire to the victim's porch, and on August 12, he killed two men during a robbery at a Citgo station in North Carolina. Allen was apprehended on August 14, 2002, and initially sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2024. Significant evidence includes eyewitness accounts, ballistic reports linking him to the shootings, and his own admissions during interrogations.
Quincy Allen's crime spree was allegedly inspired by a fellow inmate's suggestion that he could become a Mafia hitman, leading him to practice with a shotgun after his release. Some believe his initial attack on a homeless man was a test run for his subsequent murders, which included brutal killings and attempts to destroy evidence by burning victims. There are also speculations about the psychological factors that contributed to his violent behavior, including his history of incarceration and the influence of prison culture.
The Violent Odyssey of Quincy Allen
The Making of a Serial Killer
In the sweltering summer of 2002, Quincy Jovan Allen embarked on a brutal crime spree that would leave a trail of death across the Carolinas. Born on November 7, 1979, in Columbia, South Carolina, the man who would become known as a serial killer harbored ambitions as sinister as they were misguided. While serving time in federal prison for stealing a vehicle, Allen encountered another inmate who filled his head with fantasies of becoming a Mafia hitman. Inspired by this dark dream, Allen resolved to prepare for his imagined future by acquiring a shotgun and honing his skills.
The Crime Spree Begins
Allen’s violent journey began on July 7, 2002, in Finlay Park, Columbia. Seeking practice with his newly acquired sawed-off shotgun, Allen targeted a 51-year-old homeless man named James White. White, asleep on a park bench, was shot twice but miraculously survived the attack.
Just three days later, Allen escalated his violence. On July 10, he encountered 45-year-old Dale Evonne Hall near a Columbia I-77 stop. In a chilling act of brutality, Allen shot Hall multiple times in the head, face, leg, and stomach. Not content with mere murder, Allen bought gasoline from a nearby truck stop, returned to the scene, and set Hall’s body ablaze.
A String of Deaths
The violence continued into August. On the 8th, a confrontation at a Texas Roadhouse in Columbia led to the death of 22-year-old Jedediah "Jed" Harr. Harr, a friend of an employee named Brian Marquis, tried to intervene in the scuffle with Allen and paid with his life. Allen, refusing to abandon his vendetta, chased Marquis to his home and set fire to the porch. The following day, Allen's pyromaniac tendencies resurfaced when he torched the car of another Texas Roadhouse employee, then randomly set fire to another vehicle soon after.
The spree culminated on August 12, 2002, at a Citgo gasoline station in Dobson, North Carolina. In a robbery turned deadly, Allen shot and killed 53-year-old Richard Calvin Hawks and 29-year-old Robert Shane Roush.
Arrest and Aftermath
Allen's rampage came to an end on August 14, 2002, when authorities found him asleep in an abandoned car in Mitchell County, Texas. His capture closed a violent chapter but opened another in the form of a protracted legal battle.
Life Behind Bars
Even behind the high walls of prison, violence seemed to follow Allen. On December 2, 2009, Allen and fellow death row inmate Mikal Deen Mahdi, known for the 2004 murder of a public safety officer, orchestrated a brutal attack on correctional officer Nathan Sasser at the Lieber Correctional Institution. Armed with makeshift shivs, they lured Sasser to the basketball court and stabbed him multiple times. Despite his injuries, Sasser fought back, forcing the attackers to attempt a futile escape over the prison fence. Tear gas and rubber bullets were ultimately required to subdue them.
The incident led to severe restrictions on Allen and Mahdi, stripping them of privileges like outdoor recreation and visitation. Sasser, unable to shake the trauma and suffering from PTSD, eventually left his post, and charges against Allen and Mahdi were dropped, deemed unnecessary given their existing death sentences.
Trials and Sentencing
Quincy Allen's legal journey was as tumultuous as his life. After confessing to the murders, he was sentenced to death in South Carolina, with an execution date initially set for January 8, 2010. However, his attorneys secured a stay of execution, and the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld this decision. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned Allen's death sentence on July 26, 2022. Two years later, on July 23, 2024, Allen agreed to a plea deal, accepting life imprisonment in exchange for waiving any rights to appeal.
The Fate of Mikal Deen Mahdi
While Allen’s life was spared, his co-conspirator Mahdi faced a different fate. On August 30, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court set Mahdi’s execution for 2025, citing his involvement in the murder of Captain James Myers. On April 11, 2025, Mahdi was executed by firing squad at the Broad River Correctional Institution.
Allen now resides in the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, serving a life sentence devoid of the violent fantasies that once consumed him.
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Corrections (PDF)
- WACH News Article on Quincy Allen
- WCIV Article (2024-07-23)
- Corrections1 Report on Sasser Stabbing
- The State Article on Death Sentence
- The Orangeburg Times and Democrat on Mahdi
- The Post and Courier Article on Sasser
- USA Today Report on Mahdi Execution
- The New York Times on South Carolina Executions
- WIS News on Stay of Execution
- Associated Press on Allen’s Resentencing
For further reading, visit Wikipedia on Quincy Allen.
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First Attack
Quincy Allen shoots homeless man James White but he survives.
First Murder
Allen kills 45-year-old Dale Evonne Hall and burns the body.
Second Murder
Allen fatally shoots 22-year-old Jedediah Harr after a confrontation.
Third and Fourth Murders
Allen kills Richard Calvin Hawks and Robert Shane Roush during a robbery.
Arrest
Quincy Allen is arrested while sleeping in an abandoned car.
Death Sentence
Allen is sentenced to death for his crimes.
Death Sentence Overturned
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns Allen's death sentence.
Resentencing
Allen accepts a plea deal, reducing his sentence to life imprisonment.
Quincy Jovan Allen, an American serial killer, committed a series of murders between July and August 2002 across South Carolina and North Carolina, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. His crime spree began on July 7, 2002, with an attempted murder of a homeless man in Columbia, followed by the murder of Dale Evonne Hall on July 10, 2002, where he also attempted to destroy evidence by burning the body. On August 8, 2002, Allen fatally shot Jedediah Harr during a confrontation and subsequently set fire to the victim's porch, and on August 12, he killed two men during a robbery at a Citgo station in North Carolina. Allen was apprehended on August 14, 2002, and initially sentenced to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2024. Significant evidence includes eyewitness accounts, ballistic reports linking him to the shootings, and his own admissions during interrogations.
Quincy Allen's crime spree was allegedly inspired by a fellow inmate's suggestion that he could become a Mafia hitman, leading him to practice with a shotgun after his release. Some believe his initial attack on a homeless man was a test run for his subsequent murders, which included brutal killings and attempts to destroy evidence by burning victims. There are also speculations about the psychological factors that contributed to his violent behavior, including his history of incarceration and the influence of prison culture.
The Violent Odyssey of Quincy Allen
The Making of a Serial Killer
In the sweltering summer of 2002, Quincy Jovan Allen embarked on a brutal crime spree that would leave a trail of death across the Carolinas. Born on November 7, 1979, in Columbia, South Carolina, the man who would become known as a serial killer harbored ambitions as sinister as they were misguided. While serving time in federal prison for stealing a vehicle, Allen encountered another inmate who filled his head with fantasies of becoming a Mafia hitman. Inspired by this dark dream, Allen resolved to prepare for his imagined future by acquiring a shotgun and honing his skills.
The Crime Spree Begins
Allen’s violent journey began on July 7, 2002, in Finlay Park, Columbia. Seeking practice with his newly acquired sawed-off shotgun, Allen targeted a 51-year-old homeless man named James White. White, asleep on a park bench, was shot twice but miraculously survived the attack.
Just three days later, Allen escalated his violence. On July 10, he encountered 45-year-old Dale Evonne Hall near a Columbia I-77 stop. In a chilling act of brutality, Allen shot Hall multiple times in the head, face, leg, and stomach. Not content with mere murder, Allen bought gasoline from a nearby truck stop, returned to the scene, and set Hall’s body ablaze.
A String of Deaths
The violence continued into August. On the 8th, a confrontation at a Texas Roadhouse in Columbia led to the death of 22-year-old Jedediah "Jed" Harr. Harr, a friend of an employee named Brian Marquis, tried to intervene in the scuffle with Allen and paid with his life. Allen, refusing to abandon his vendetta, chased Marquis to his home and set fire to the porch. The following day, Allen's pyromaniac tendencies resurfaced when he torched the car of another Texas Roadhouse employee, then randomly set fire to another vehicle soon after.
The spree culminated on August 12, 2002, at a Citgo gasoline station in Dobson, North Carolina. In a robbery turned deadly, Allen shot and killed 53-year-old Richard Calvin Hawks and 29-year-old Robert Shane Roush.
Arrest and Aftermath
Allen's rampage came to an end on August 14, 2002, when authorities found him asleep in an abandoned car in Mitchell County, Texas. His capture closed a violent chapter but opened another in the form of a protracted legal battle.
Life Behind Bars
Even behind the high walls of prison, violence seemed to follow Allen. On December 2, 2009, Allen and fellow death row inmate Mikal Deen Mahdi, known for the 2004 murder of a public safety officer, orchestrated a brutal attack on correctional officer Nathan Sasser at the Lieber Correctional Institution. Armed with makeshift shivs, they lured Sasser to the basketball court and stabbed him multiple times. Despite his injuries, Sasser fought back, forcing the attackers to attempt a futile escape over the prison fence. Tear gas and rubber bullets were ultimately required to subdue them.
The incident led to severe restrictions on Allen and Mahdi, stripping them of privileges like outdoor recreation and visitation. Sasser, unable to shake the trauma and suffering from PTSD, eventually left his post, and charges against Allen and Mahdi were dropped, deemed unnecessary given their existing death sentences.
Trials and Sentencing
Quincy Allen's legal journey was as tumultuous as his life. After confessing to the murders, he was sentenced to death in South Carolina, with an execution date initially set for January 8, 2010. However, his attorneys secured a stay of execution, and the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld this decision. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned Allen's death sentence on July 26, 2022. Two years later, on July 23, 2024, Allen agreed to a plea deal, accepting life imprisonment in exchange for waiving any rights to appeal.
The Fate of Mikal Deen Mahdi
While Allen’s life was spared, his co-conspirator Mahdi faced a different fate. On August 30, 2024, the South Carolina Supreme Court set Mahdi’s execution for 2025, citing his involvement in the murder of Captain James Myers. On April 11, 2025, Mahdi was executed by firing squad at the Broad River Correctional Institution.
Allen now resides in the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina, serving a life sentence devoid of the violent fantasies that once consumed him.
Sources
- South Carolina Department of Corrections (PDF)
- WACH News Article on Quincy Allen
- WCIV Article (2024-07-23)
- Corrections1 Report on Sasser Stabbing
- The State Article on Death Sentence
- The Orangeburg Times and Democrat on Mahdi
- The Post and Courier Article on Sasser
- USA Today Report on Mahdi Execution
- The New York Times on South Carolina Executions
- WIS News on Stay of Execution
- Associated Press on Allen’s Resentencing
For further reading, visit Wikipedia on Quincy Allen.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Attack
Quincy Allen shoots homeless man James White but he survives.
First Murder
Allen kills 45-year-old Dale Evonne Hall and burns the body.
Second Murder
Allen fatally shoots 22-year-old Jedediah Harr after a confrontation.
Third and Fourth Murders
Allen kills Richard Calvin Hawks and Robert Shane Roush during a robbery.
Arrest
Quincy Allen is arrested while sleeping in an abandoned car.
Death Sentence
Allen is sentenced to death for his crimes.
Death Sentence Overturned
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturns Allen's death sentence.
Resentencing
Allen accepts a plea deal, reducing his sentence to life imprisonment.