Cause of Death Confirmed for 22-Year-Old Interior Design Graduate Killed in Alabama Shooting

Authorities in Alabama have officially confirmed the cause and manner of death for Whitney Harlow Robeson, a 22-year-old college graduate from Virginia who was fatally shot earlier this year at her boyfriend’s family home in Trussville.

According to the Jefferson County Coroner and Medical Examiner’s Office, Robeson died from injuries to her left lung, heart, and aorta caused by a gunshot wound to the chest. Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates confirmed that the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

The shooting happened on the night of March 7, 2026, when officers with the Trussville Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at a private residence around 9:30 p.m. Police found Robeson suffering from a gunshot wound before she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that evening.

Following a lengthy investigation by the department’s Criminal Investigations Division, authorities arrested Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, on May 11. Towers — identified as the father of Robeson’s boyfriend — has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the shooting.

Investigators stated that Towers was taken into custody and later released on a $30,000 bond. Officials have not yet released full details surrounding the circumstances of the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The coroner’s updated ruling clarified earlier reports that had described the shooting as a possible accidental incident. Officials emphasized that the medical examiner’s office did not classify the death as accidental.

Attorneys representing Towers released a public statement maintaining their client’s innocence. Lawyers John Amari and Dain Stewart described the incident as “a tragic event” and said they believe the evidence will ultimately show that Towers is not guilty of the charges against him.

Meanwhile, Robeson’s family continues mourning the loss of a young woman they described as compassionate, ambitious, and full of promise.

A graduate of Auburn University, Robeson earned a degree in interior design in 2025 and had recently begun working as a Trade Consultant at Restoration Hardware. In her obituary, family members said she had dreamed of becoming an interior designer since childhood and was just beginning the career she had always wanted.

“She was on the cusp of her successful career in interior design,” the obituary stated, remembering her as someone whose “radiant soul” deeply impacted everyone who knew her.

The case is expected to continue through the Alabama court system as investigators and prosecutors review the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.