Paris Allen Shooting: Duluth, MN Drive-By Kills 19-Year-Old Paris Kaden Allen; Brandon Capone Williams-Gillard & Sanussi Tamsir Bangoura Convicted.

The Tragic Loss of Paris Kaden Allen

The name “Paris Allen” first captured public attention not because of a rumored incident, but due to a tragic, verified shooting that occurred in Duluth, Minnesota. On August 2, 2023, 19-year-old Paris Kaden Allen was fatally shot in a drive-by shooting on the 2500 block of West Second Street in Duluth’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Allen, who had recently returned to Duluth from California to visit family and friends, died on a sidewalk from a gunshot wound to the head.

The incident was Duluth’s first and only homicide of 2023, shocking a community unaccustomed to such violence. The shooting occurred in broad daylight, with multiple witnesses present. In the chaotic aftermath, another 18-year-old, Caleb Reinolt‑Nemec, was also struck by gunfire near his hip and suffered life‑altering injuries.

The Chain of Events Leading to the Shooting

According to trial testimony, the shooting resulted from a year‑long feud between two groups of young men. On the afternoon of August 2, a confrontation began when Sanussi Tamsir Bangoura (then 21) and Brandon Capone Williams‑Gillard (then 25) encountered Jackson Morales in the parking lot of the Holy Family Catholic Church at 2430 West Third Street. The two men agreed to a fistfight (“box”) down the street. Morales then summoned his friends—including Allen and Reinolt‑Nemec—from a nearby residence.

As the two groups gathered, Reinolt‑Nemec saw Bangoura reach for a handgun inside the blue Chrysler 300 the two men were driving. Fearing for his safety, Reinolt‑Nemec punched Bangoura through the open driver’s side window. The Chrysler then sped away, and both Bangoura and Williams‑Gillard opened fire, unleashing a volley of bullets toward the group. Allen was struck once in the head and died within hours. Reinolt‑Nemec was hit in the buttocks and hip area, requiring treatment at a local hospital.

The Perpetrators and Legal Proceedings

Both Bangoura and Williams‑Gillard were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting intentional second‑degree murder, second‑degree assault, and drive‑by shooting.

Brandon Capone Williams‑Gillard, then 25, was the first to stand trial. In December 2023, a St. Louis County jury found him guilty on all counts after nine hours of deliberation. Despite the defense’s argument that Williams‑Gillard was not the primary aggressor, the prosecution successfully argued that under Minnesota’s aiding and abetting statute, he shared equal legal liability for the actions of his co‑defendant. In April 2024, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the maximum guideline sentence.

Sanussi Tamsir Bangoura, then 22, went to trial in June 2024. He took the witness stand and argued self‑defense, claiming he feared for his life when he fired the shots. However, the prosecution presented video evidence that contradicted his account. The jury rejected the self‑defense claim and convicted Bangoura on all three charges after only three hours of deliberation. In August 2024, Judge Eric Hylden sentenced him to just over 30 years in prison, again the maximum guideline sentence.

The Aftermath: A Community in Mourning

The shooting reverberated far beyond the courtroom. Allen’s family established a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses, with funds directed to his father, Brian Allen. In a statement, his aunt Angie Jean described Allen as “an amazing young man” and an “innocent victim”.

The tragedy also sparked a retaliatory act. Ogima Joseph Currie, then 17 and a friend of the victims, fired up to 10 shots toward the residence shared by Bangoura and Williams‑Gillard just minutes after the original shooting. Some bullets struck neighboring homes, including one where a 9‑year‑old child was watching from a window. Currie pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was sentenced to five years in prison.

The Heartbreaking Loss of Brian Allen

Perhaps the most devastating consequence of the shooting was its impact on Allen’s father, Brian Allen. A single father who had raised Paris from birth, Brian Allen attended both trials and delivered emotional victim‑impact statements. At Williams‑Gillard’s sentencing, he said, “Every day I walk into my house, it is like a tomb. … When they say a parent should never bury a child, it is so damn true”.

Tragically, Brian Allen took his own life on June 25, 2024, just five days after Bangoura’s conviction. His brother, Gary Allen, told the court, “My brother could not handle the heartache anymore, and he took his own life because of it”. Gary added, “The two men who opened fire on a Lincoln Park street last summer did not just kill Paris Allen. They’re also responsible for the death of his father”.

Appeals and Finality

In July 2025, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed Williams‑Gillard’s conviction, rejecting his arguments that certain evidence should have been excluded. While the appellate panel noted two “harmless” errors by the district court, it concluded that “the evidence of Williams‑Gillard’s guilt was strong” and upheld the 40‑year sentence.

Remembering Paris Kaden Allen

Paris Kaden Allen was more than a victim of violence. He was a young man who loved acoustic guitar, art, football, and longboarding. He had returned to Duluth not only to visit loved ones but also to undergo testing to see if he could donate a kidney to his ailing father. He dreamed of becoming an underwater welder.

A Note on the Confusion Surrounding the Name “Paris Allen”

Since 2023, the name “Paris Allen” has occasionally appeared in other contexts, leading to confusion. In March 2025, a 29‑year‑old Paris Allen in Rockford, Illinois, was arrested for possessing a stolen firearm. That individual has no connection to the Duluth shooting. Similarly, some online searches have mixed up the Duluth incident with other unrelated events, such as a 2023 mass shooting in Allen, Texas, or a 2026 knife‑wielding incident in Paris, Texas.

Conclusion

The Duluth shooting that claimed the life of 19‑year‑old Paris Kaden Allen stands as a stark reminder of how quickly a disagreement can escalate into irreversible tragedy. The subsequent convictions of Brandon Capone Williams‑Gillard and Sanussi Tamsir Bangoura, and the tragic death of Brian Allen, underscore the profound and lasting consequences of gun violence. As the community continues to heal, the memory of Paris Allen—a young man who loved his family, dreamed of a future, and returned home to help his father—remains a poignant call for compassion, conflict resolution, and accountability.

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a mental health professional or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.