Whitney Harlow Robeson, a 22-year-old recent Auburn University graduate, died after being shot inside a home in Trussville on March 7, 2026, in an incident that has since led to a manslaughter charge following a months-long investigation.
According to the Trussville Police Department, officers responded around 9:30 p.m. to a residence in the 7700 block of Deer Trail after reports of a gunshot victim. Responding officers found Robeson suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m., authorities said.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office initially ruled the shooting accidental. One person was detained at the scene for questioning as investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police later confirmed that the case remained under active investigation for approximately two months as detectives with the Trussville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division reviewed evidence, conducted interviews, and consulted with the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
On May 11, 2026, authorities obtained an arrest warrant charging 54-year-old Jeffrey Scott Towers with manslaughter in connection with Robeson’s death. Towers, who is the father of Robeson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody without incident and later released on a $30,000 bond, officials said.
Investigators have not publicly released detailed information about what led to the shooting or how the firearm was discharged inside the residence. The circumstances that resulted in the coroner’s initial accidental classification being reassessed have also not been fully disclosed.
Robeson, originally from Richmond, Virginia, had recently graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University with a degree in interior design. She was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and had recently begun working as a trade consultant at Restoration Hardware in Birmingham, where colleagues described her as talented, driven, and kind.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as the case proceeds through the judicial system. No further details have been released at this time.
Robeson’s death has prompted an outpouring of grief from family, friends, and the Auburn University community, who continue to remember her academic achievements and the future she was beginning to build.