James P. Allen Sr., a Natchez man allegedly shot by his son Monday night, is remembered as a caring person.

&uot;He was a sweet, fine man,&uot; said his neighbor Mary Lou Boyles. &uot;Everybody liked him very much.&uot;

Allen, who was married to Irene Allen, died Monday at his residence on 106 Seargent S. Prentiss Drive near Fatherland Road.

Police have charged the Allens’ 44-year-old son, Mark Allen, with the shooting.

The incident has surprised the Fatherland Road area.

&uot;We thought we had a nice neighborhood,&uot; Boyles said.

Around 50 law enforcement officials were at the residence for more than nine hours Monday trying to convince Mark Allen to come out of the house after the alleged murder.

The Allens’ neighbor, the Rev. Ron Stoker, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church on Fatherland Road, said he though it unusual to see his church parking lot full of cars at around 10:30 p.m Monday.

&uot;I assumed the Allens were having a party or something,&uot; Stoker said.

Tuesday morning a member of his congregation told him about the shooting.

Stoker said he did not know the Allens well but was shocked by the incident.

&uot;You always assume your neighbors are going to be around,&uot; Stoker said.

And James Allen was well known in the community, he added.

&uot;A lot of people are going be upset about this,&uot; Stoker said. &uot;The thing I remember about Mr. Allen the most is the work he’s done in his yard.&uot;

Dr. John Langlow, who lives next to the Allens, said he received a call from police around 1:30 a.m.

&uot;They were trying to inform us,&uot;&160;Langlow said.

Other than seeing a lot of cars at the church he also did not hear anything.

Lynwood Easterling, who went to church with the Allens, said James was a very involved member of First Baptist Church of Natchez.

&uot;They are just a super family. He would do anything for anybody,&uot; Easterling said. &uot;Natchez is going to miss that guy.&uot;

Easterling said James and Irene Allen seemed especially close.

&uot;You would see them together all the time,&uot;&160;he said.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Laird Funeral Home.