Police radio recordings reveal officers' perspective at deadly Brooklyn Cracker Barrel shooting

BROOKLYN, Ohio - Recordings of police radio traffic offer more insight into what happened during a domestic-related shooting at the Brooklyn Cracker Barrel that left three dead last week.

The dispatcher sent three police officers to the restaurant after receiving a 911 call from 42-year-old Katherina (Kate) Allen Thursday at 8:40 p.m. saying her husband, 51-year-old Kevin Allen, was circling the parking lot and waiting for her to come out.

Kate Allen, of Strongsville, told the dispatcher she had just told Kevin she wanted to leave him. She said he had shotgun shells on him, but she didn’t know if he had a gun.

The first officer to arrive noticed Kevin Allen’s Jeep Liberty in the parking lot.

“I just pulled up, spotted him. He’s driving through the lot now,” said the officer.

Kate Allen hung up with the dispatcher when she saw the officer pull up.

“Alright. Stay off the air. His truck is empty. I don’t know where he went. He’s parked in front of Cracker Barrel,” said the officer.

WEB EXTRA: Click to listen to the audio recordings released by the police:

Moments later, police learned what was happening inside the Tiedeman Road restaurant, as they said Kevin Allen began shooting.

“Oh my God, radio. Shots fired in the restaurant. Shots fired in the restaurant,” said the officer. “People are coming out saying he’s inside shooting.

The officer didn’t know where Kevin Allen was.

“He’s got a long gun, it sounds like,” the officer said.

“Alright, he’s in the girls’ bathroom, a witness says. Girls’ bathroom. He does have a gun,” said the officer.

Police continued to learn more information from witnesses.

“Alright, he’s got a kid, according to the witness,” an officer said.

The dispatcher told the officers she could hear shots over the phone.

“Shots are fired. Male is down. Gun is out of his hand,” said one officer.

“He is down and we have the weapon,” said another officer.

Brooklyn police said officers shot and killed Kevin Allen when he did not comply with their orders to surrender.

Police then discovered Kate Allen dead near the front counter. The couple’s daughter, 10-year-old Kerri Allen, was also found shot to death in the restaurant.

Records showed the day of the shooting was Kerri’s birthday, and workers at the restaurant told NewsChannel5 the family was there to celebrate her birthday.

The Allens’ other daughter, 10-year-old Kayla, was also shot and remains in critical condition at a Cleveland hospital.

A police report released Friday showed Kate Allen had file a report Tuesday after having an argument with her husband on Easter Sunday. She left the house that day with her daughters and went to a friend’s house.

The investigation into the incident is continuing.