City to hold press conference on status of A’yanna Allen murder

Published 2:54 pm Tuesday, May 23, 2017

City and county officials have scheduled a press conference Wednesday to discuss the status of the A’yanna Allen murder case.

The 7-year-old was killed Dec. 4 while she slept at her grandmother’s Harrel Street home. Her death came just hours after a man was shot outside a bar and lounge. He later died at the hospital.

The Salisbury Police Department, Rowan County district attorney and Rowan County Sheriff’s Office are expected to provide information on the case at 10 a.m. at police headquarters, 130 E. Liberty St.

No arrest has been made in A’yanna’s death. She was a second-grader at Koontz Elementary School. Her paternal grandmother, Shirley Robinson, was also shot in the leg that night.

An autopsy revealed A’yanna had 20 gunshot wounds to her legs, torso and head. Her funeral drew a crowd, including city officials, law enforcement officers, community leaders and classmates.

A $20,000 reward leading to an arrest in her death remains in place.