Imagine getting into an argument with a co-worker, and afterward, the co-worker retrieves a shotgun, murders your friend, and then tries to murder you. Now, imagine stopping by a random gas station while on a road trip to meet friends and running into a serial killer with a shotgun. Or, try to picture yourself sleeping on a bench, and suddenly, you are shot multiple times.
This is the story of Quincy Allen, a man who set out to teach himself how to become a serial killer.
Early Life and Imprisonment
Quincy Allen was born on November 7, 1979. He was sent to federal prison after stealing a car. During his time in prison, he found inspiration to become a serial killer. A fellow inmate offered him a job as a hitman for the mafia, and it was at this point that Quincy decided to embark on a violent crime spree.
First Murders: Practicing with a Shotgun
On July 7, 2002, Quincy decided to practice using a shotgun. He observed 51-year-old James White, a homeless man, sleeping on a bench at Finley Park in Columbia, South Carolina. Without warning, Quincy shot White twice while he slept.
Just three days later, Quincy struck again on July 10, 2002. This time, he used his sawed-off shotgun to murder 45-year-old Dale Lavon Hall near the Columbia I-77 rest stop. He shot Hall in the head, stomach, face, and legs. Afterward, he drove to a nearby truck stop to purchase a gasoline can. Returning to the body, he doused it in gasoline and set it on fire.
The body was discovered by two individuals who noticed a fire burning on the side of the road. After authorities arrived and firefighters extinguished the blaze, they made a gruesome discovery: a nude woman, shot multiple times and set ablaze. The victim was later identified as Dale Lavon Hall, thanks to a sheriff’s office employee who realized the description matched that of a missing relative.
Connections to Sex Work and New Leads
Investigators spoke to Hall’s family and learned that she was a nurse. However, during their investigation, they discovered that Hall had also been involved in sex work. This detail would soon lead to a crucial break in the case.
Five days after Hall’s murder, police received a call from a sex worker who provided a possible clue about the killer. The sex worker described a disturbing encounter with a client. She explained that after negotiating terms for a sexual encounter, the client removed his shirt, revealing the words “serial killer” written across his stomach. Terrified, she fled the vehicle.
With the similarities between Hall’s murder and the shooting of James White, investigators believed the two cases were connected.
A Deadly Altercation at Work
On August 8, 2002, Quincy Allen struck again. While working at Texas Roadhouse, he got into an altercation with his co-worker, Brian Marquise. Quincy had been harassing Marquise’s pregnant girlfriend, also a co-worker. When she asked him to stop, Quincy threatened to strike her that she would lose her baby. Understandably, this enraged Marquise, who confronted Quincy.
Both employees were asked to leave by the manager. As Marquise and another employee, Jedediah Ayahar, drove away from the restaurant, witnesses reported seeing Quincy retrieve a shotgun from his trunk and fire at the car. Jedediah was shot in the head and killed instantly. Marquise, who witnessed the horrific event, fled to a nearby gas station to seek help.
“I need you to call the police! Oh my gosh, am I bleeding? Am I bleeding?” Marquise exclaimed, fearing for his life. Thankfully, the gas station attendant, Roberta Harrison, acted quickly and hid Marquise in the store’s cooler. Quincy later entered the gas station, searching for Marquise, but Roberta convinced him that no one was there, saving Marquise’s life.
Quincy’s Crime Spree Continues
Just four days later, on August 12, 2002, Quincy resumed his killing spree. He stopped at a gas station in Dobson, North Carolina, where he encountered gas station attendant Richard Hawks. After making a purchase, Quincy returned to his car to retrieve his shotgun. When Mr. Hawks’ back was turned, Quincy shot and killed him.
Quincy then went behind the counter to try to open the cash register. At that moment, an unsuspecting customer, Robert Rausch, a 29-year-old teacher from Lancaster, Ohio, entered the gas station. On his way to visit friends, Robert walked right into a nightmare. Quincy shot him in the stomach, stole his wallet and keys, and then shot him in the head before leaving the store.
Before leaving, Quincy taunted authorities by looking directly into the surveillance camera, sticking out his tongue, and smearing the blood of his victim on the lens. It was as if he was challenging law enforcement, daring them to catch him.
Bragging About His Crimes
Quincy didn’t seem to fear being caught. In fact, he wanted people to know he was responsible for these brutal killings. He even used Robert Rausch’s phone to call his friends and brag about the murders. He boasted about having a “hit list” and openly declared his desire to become a serial killer.
Alarmed by these confessions, his friends contacted the sheriff’s office. One of his female friends even recorded Quincy describing the murders in gruesome detail. “He never turned around. I just shot him in the back,” he bragged about Hawks’ murder. He then asked, “Could you look inside someone’s head without puking?”
Read More: Francisco Acevedo: A serial killer who caught by DNA
Quincy Allen’s Arrest and Sentence
By this time, authorities knew they were dealing with a highly dangerous individual, and they were desperate to catch him before he was killed again. A break came when Quincy used Robert Rausch’s credit card in Texas. Police located him sleeping in the stolen vehicle and arrested him. Quincy later confessed to all of his crimes. He was subsequently sentenced to death. Our thoughts and prayers remain with all of his victims.
