A young boy named King was orphaned after he lost both of his parents in the Toyota service center shootings in Albany.
“Losing a mother so tragically is devastating for any one, especially a young child (who is) as close to their mother as King was to his,” King’s grandmother wrote on a GoFundMe page.
The boy’s mother was identified by the family as 24-year-old Alonna Gallon. “They were the best of friends,” the boy’s grandmother told the press.
On September 21, Gallon was working at the Toyota dealership’s service center when she was shot by her son’s father.
The victim’s mother, Yuvonda Gallon, wrote, “Alonna was tragically killed at her place of employment by her child’s father after making a conscience decision to distance herself from him due to his reckless behaviors. Alonna tried to the best of her individual abilities to create a healthy co-parenting relationship with King’s father but it unfortunately didn’t stop him from brutally taking her life.”
At 11:14 a.m., several witnesses inside the auto service center called 911, reporting that a man entered the establishment and shot an employee.
According to authorities, police officers immediately responded and found the suspect on the second floor. A standoff ensued and eventually, the suspect was fatally shot.
The Albany Police Department is leading the homicide investigation for Alonna Gallon’s death.
The GoFundMe page was created to help support her young son.
Alonna Gallon is remembered by her family as a caring, kind, and shy person “who had a lot of love to give and more life to live.” She did everything for her son, including working for Toyota for three years so she could financially support him.
Alonna Gallon and her alleged killer were no longer in a relationship, but they were co-parenting their son, Yuvonda Gallon told the press.
“Alonna declared to be the best mother she could be to King from the very moment she found out she’d be a young mother. Alonna was the kind of mother who always put King’s needs before her own and dreamed of a life where she’d send her son off to college,” Yuvonda Gallon wrote. “This tragedy leaves behind a child who will need not only the support of his close family, but of the community around him.”
As of Monday morning, the father’s name had not been released by law enforcement officials.
