SEEKING JUSTICE
18 years after Claude Allen was shot to death, his family is still waiting for answers … and Vancouver police haven’t given up hope of nailing the killer
The music was loud and the mood energetic. Claude Allen was grooving solo to a reggae beat at a Caribbean dance in a rented hall on Kingsway. It was something he liked to do, the same way he’d break out into impromptu song walking down the street.
But what started out as a celebratory night out for the 38-year-old Vancouver man ended in a deadly shooting.
Eighteen years later, justice remains elusive for Allen’s family, including mom Rita Allen and sister Veronica Harrison-Dawkins, who wonder to this day why the jovial father of three had to die over what seemed to be an inconsequential matter.
“Claude and his death are still in every single family member’s heart on a day-today basis,” said Harrison-Dawkins, who at the time was one year younger than Allen, her only sibling. “For me, every time I think about it, I cry.
“We were each other’s protectors. I miss my brother.”
Hours before Allen was shot to death, he had celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday party at their home with family and friends. Afterwards, some people headed to a Caribbean dance at the Polish Veterans’ Hall on Kingsway.
Allen, who moved to Canada from Jamaica in 1993 and worked as a cabinet maker, had no criminal record. Whatever happened that night, said police, started and ended at the dance hall.
Harrison-Dawkins said her brother “made a comment about someone having their foot extended, and he asked them to move it.” Later, he made a remark some people didn’t like.
According to the detective on the case at the time, Allen had taken the mike and told a couple of people in the crowd they didn’t belong there. That’s what police believe led to the fight.
“It was totally out of proportion from what Claude had said on stage,” said Vancouver Police Det. Steve Pranzl at a news conference three days after the incident. “’Fight’ might be a bit incorrect — Claude was attacked by a group of people and was defending himself.”
Following the shooting, family made a public plea for witnesses. Out of 200 people at the dance hall that night, only eight stayed behind. Description of the suspects was scant, with the attackers described only as “dark-skinned.”
“People would say things, but when they’re interviewed by police, nobody was forthright,” said Harrison-Dawkins.
“Nobody wanted to come forward to say anything,” said Allen’s mother Rita. “It’s like everybody’s scared.”
Allen was cremated, his ashes returned to Jamaica so he could be close to his children.
In the first five years following his death, Harrison-Dawkins used to be in regular contact with investigators. In the ensuing years, those updates dwindled.
Two weeks ago, the family received a phone call at their Surrey home from a detective.
The call gave her hope, said Harrison-Dawkins, who burst into tears when she heard the officer say her brother’s name.
Vancouver police confirmed the Claude Allen cold case is open and active. Just last year, investigators had made submissions on the case to a lab, said Sgt. Jason Robillard, who declined to elaborate on the nature of the submission, but said it was evidence that police wanted analyzed.
Allen’s case is one of a handful listed on Vancouver Police Department website as unsolved homicide cold cases. Police also maintain a VPD Cold Cases website that provides information on more than a dozen cold cases.
These are the open cases police believe have a strong chance of being solved, said Robillard. But often, as in the Allen case, the answer lies in someone else’s hands.
“Somebody knows something,” said Robillard. “As we approach 18 years we need those people to come forward and help bring closure to Claude’s family.”
Robillard said that with the passing of time, people’s lives and their circumstances may change; their conscience may be nagging them.
“There’s probably a piece of information someone has been sitting on for 18 years,” he said. “Anyone out there living with a heavy conscience with Claude Allen — or any cold case — it’s time to clear your conscience.”
Every year, Harrison-Dawkins and Rita mark Nov. 12 by talking about Allen a bit more than normal. From time to time, they light a candle in memory of a man they describe as loyal, honest, goofy and dedicated to his family.
The family remains hopeful someone will come forward with information that would break the case wide open, delivering long-delayed justice for Allen.
Not knowing “makes it very hard,” said Rita, a catch in her voice. “You have to live with it the rest of your life not getting closure.”
Anyone with information about Allen’s case is asked to call Vancouver Police Department’s homicide unit at 604717-2500 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.