Strongsville family was apparently celebrating birthday before shooting at Brooklyn Cracker Barrel

BROOKLYN, Ohio - A young girl from Strongsville celebrating her birthday was among three killed during a domestic-related shooting at the Brooklyn Cracker Barrel restaurant Thursday.

A worker at the Tiedeman Road restaurant, who wished to remain anonymous, told NewsChannel5 the Allen family was there for one of their daughter’s birthdays.

Police records showed April 12, the day of the shooting, was Kerri Allen’s 10th birthday. She was with her parents, 42-year-old Kate Allen and 51-year-old Kevin Allen, as well as her 10-year-old sister, Kayla Allen.

Kate Allen told a 911 dispatcher the couple met up at the restaurant, but drove separately to get there. A police report showed the couple got into an argument on Easter Sunday, and she had left with the kids to stay at a friend’s house.

Kate Allen also told the dispatcher she had told her husband at the restaurant that she was going to leave him – and that’s what caused him to become angry and circle the parking lot in his car, waiting for her to leave.

As police arrived at the restaurant, officers said Kevin Allen entered the Cracker Barrel with a long gun and shot Kate, Kerri and Kayla. Kate and Kerri died at the scene, while Kayla was taken to a Cleveland hospital, where she’s listed in critical condition.

Officers shot Kevin Allen multiple times after they said he refused to surrender. He also died at the scene.

Cause of death reports from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office said Kate had been shot multiple times in the head and torso area, Kerri was shot once in the abdomen and Kevin was shot multiple times in the trunk and extremities.

A neighbor who lives across from the Allens in Strongsville told NewsChannel5 Kate was a manager at a local restaurant – and worked a lot of hours. The neighbor also said the family had a trampoline in their yard and often saw the children playing outside.

The neighbor went on to say she recently helped the Allens by baby sitting their children and cooking for the family while Kate was in a wheelchair following a serious car crash. She said Kevin Allen was always out for himself and didn’t help Kate much with their daughters. She said the only thing she saw Kevin do to help out was mow the grass.