Trial set for man charged in Bowling Green auto mart death

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — A Warren County man accused of being involved in a fatal shooting at a Bowling Green business is set to stand trial next week.

Darris Allen, 42, appeared in court Tuesday, where a judge scheduled his trial for Oct. 17. Allen remains in the Warren County Regional Jail on a $500,000 cash bond, charged with murder by complicity in the death of 39-year-old Robert Dark.

According to a criminal complaint, Allen allegedly “committed murder by complicity” by helping plan or facilitate the shooting of Dark at Martin Auto Mart on U.S. 31-W Bypass.

Bowling Green police responded to the business around 12:21 p.m. on the day of the incident, where officers found Dark dead inside of the store. Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but court records state he had multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators say surveillance footage showed a suspect entering the business before several gunshots were heard. The same person was then seen leaving the building and getting into a vehicle that later left the scene.

Authorities say the vehicle, later found by police, appeared in other surveillance video driving near Martin Auto Mart shortly before the shooting, seemingly surveying the business.

Court documents indicate Allen and Dark were business partners in a local restaurant that had recently closed before the shooting.

Allen’s trial on the murder by complicity charge is scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 17, in Warren Circuit Court.

News 40 will continue to provide updates as this case develops.