What to Know
- Alex Allen, 55, was confirmed dead by his wife, Dola Allen.
- Allen was killed when a gunman broke down the couple's front door and opened fire on the victim, who was laying on the couch,
- Someone had tried to kill Allen two other times before Saturday.
A family is looking for answers Monday after a Boston city worker was shot and killed in his Mattapan home Saturday night on his birthday.
At 11:15 p.m., officials responded to a shooting at 201 Manchester St. Alex Allen, 55, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
"It's horrible," his widow, Dola Allen, said. "It's really traumatic."
Allen told NBC10 Boston her husband was watching TV and laying on their couch when someone broke down their front door and opened fire on him.
"When somebody catches you when you're sleeping, it's just wickedness," she said. "You didn't even have the chance to defend yourself."
His family says this is the third attempt someone has tried to kill him.
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"He was shot the first time, I said 'Get out. Leave town.'" said the victim's father, Alexander Allen Sr., a bishop. "But he didn't. I said, 'They'll be back.'"
Previously, Allen was shot in the leg while he was inside his public works car on his way to work. A few months before that shooting, Dola Allen said the back of their home was shot numerous times.
"They should find him and they will find him. Or God will take care of that, I leave it in his hands," Allen Sr. said of his son's killer. "My kids are good kids. They're all good, and I love them."
"He was a good son," Allen's mother, Mary Ann Allen, added. "He loved his family."
The victim was a supervisor for Boston's Department of Public Works, where he had worked for 20 years.
"My thoughts are with his loved ones and colleagues at the Public Works Department," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh wrote in a statement. "I encourage anyone with information that can help in this investigation to reach out to the Boston Police Department."
Anyone with information on the homicide is urged to call Boston’s Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or 1-800-494-TIPS (8477).
