Felon Wanted To Get Money To Pay For His Daughter's Prom. But His Robbery Plan Ended In Murder.

He went to rob a man to pay for his daughter’s prom but ended up killing the victim in front of a child.

Now, he’ll spend the rest of his life in prison.

Last month, a judge in South Carolina sentenced Ivington Allen, 42, to life in prison for the murder of James “Torrell” Williams. He was convicted of a jury of murder, possession of a weapon during a commission of a violent crime and attempted armed robbery.

On April 22, 2018, Allen knocked on William’s door, according to the 1st Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Williams answered the door and Allen demanded money.

Williams refused and Allen went to his car to get a gun, prosecutors said. Allen returned and tried to arm rob the victim. A struggle ensued, and Allen shot Williams once in the stomach.

Williams’ 13-year-old son was asleep on the couch nearby and was awakened by the sound of gunshots, prosecutors said.

The victim died from his injuries 10 days later while in hospice care, according to prosecutors.

Williams was trying to get money to pay for his daughter’s prom, WCIV reported.

Before Williams died, he told police and his family members that “A-1 shot me.” “A-1” was Allen’s nickname. Before being shot, Williams said Allen pointed the gun to his head and he thought, “Lord, don’t let this man kill me in front of my son.”

Allen fled the scene after the shooting. In January 2019, he was arrested during a traffic stop, prosecutors said. He gave police a fake ID and had 35 grams of Ecstasy on him.

Allen has a criminal history dating to 1999, when he was convicted of carjacking, strong-armed robbery, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and grand larceny. In 2002, he was convicted of armed robbery, failure to stop for blue lights and assault and battery with intent to kill.