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Slain Middleton student planned to join National Guard

Staff photo by MICHAEL EGGER

Eddie Pace holds a photo of his slain stepson, Gregory Allen Jr. Kevaughn, left, is Gregory's brother and Kiara, center, is his sister.

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By JEFF PATTERSON | News Channel 8
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2009

Updated: 11/12/2009 09:55 pm

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Greg Allen

TAMPA - Gregory Allen Jr. planned to join the National Guard after graduating from Middleton High School, where he had once been named "Turnaround Student of the Year" for the uptick in his academics and behavior.

The possibility of a promising future was snuffed out Wednesday night when the 17-year-old senior was fatally shot in an incident sparked by the theft of a bicycle at a city park. It was one of three unrelated homicides in and around the city in the span of a few hours.

"I'm surprised this had to happen to him like this; why somebody had to gun him down in the street like that," said Allen's stepfather, Eddie Pace. "And for his mother to have to bury her son at this early age in life, I just don't understand how this had to happen like this."

At least 50 people were in DeSoto Park at the time, but police were still left to call for witnesses to come forward. Officers said some of Allen's friends were there but fled the area.

At Middleton High, grief counselors met with more than 100 students on Thursday.

"He was a popular kid, well-liked kid, got along with everybody," counselor Jeff Smith said.

Allen's brother attends Middleton and his mother is a secretary for the school district.

Police were called Wednesday afternoon to a shooting at 201 N. 26th St. When officers arrived, Allen was on the sidewalk in front of a vacant building, about two blocks from the park. He had been shot twice in the chest.

Allen was able to tell officers that two men had approached him just after 5:30 p.m. and that one shot him. He gave limited descriptions: one suspect was age 17 to 21, and was wearing a red shirt and black jeans and walking a white pit bull puppy; the other was wearing a black shirt.

Allen was taken to Tampa General Hospital but died just after 10 p.m.

Detectives say the incident began in the park over a bicycle theft.

"It's not clear who the bicycle belongs to, and it's not clear who stole the bicycle," police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

Pace said he didn't know anything about a stolen bike and that his stepson didn't usually hang out in the park. The family lives near Busch Gardens, about 10 miles away.

Cary Hopkins Eyles said she was walking at the park with her 2-year-old son and her husband was jogging in the area as police were investigating Wednesday evening.

Hopkins Eyles, vice president of the Palmetto Beach Community Association, has lived in the neighborhood for five years. She considers it safe, although she said shots have been fired in the area on occasion.

She doesn't know Allen or his family but said the association is planning to hold a walk or memorial to show solidarity.

Tribune reporter José Patiño Girona contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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