Dad of alleged school shooter convicted of murder
Donna Rotunno, a criminal defense attorney and host of ‘Crime & Justice with Donna Rotunno,’ recently discussed on ‘Fox & Friends’ the legal implications surrounding a Georgia father held accountable for his son’s alleged involvement in a school shooting.
In a separate case, an Alabama man has been charged following the fatal shooting of his son’s 22-year-old girlfriend, Whitney Harlow Robeson, who was an Auburn University graduate and an aspiring interior designer with a promising career ahead.
Robeson, originally from Virginia, tragically passed away from a gunshot wound on March 7 at a residence on Deer Trail in Trussville, Alabama, a short distance from Birmingham.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. when police responded to the scene. Despite efforts to save her, Robeson succumbed to her injuries at the hospital just over an hour later.
Following an “extensive investigation,” Trussville police have arrested Jeffrey Scott Towers, the father of Robeson’s boyfriend. Towers, 54, faces a reckless manslaughter charge. Records show that both he and his son, who also graduated from Auburn, reside at the Deer Trail address.
Jeffrey Towers, from Trussville, Alabama, now stands accused of manslaughter in connection with the tragic death of Whitney Robeson. (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
Court records have not revealed details of the shooting or evidence surrounding the charges against Towers, other than to allege he shot Robeson.
In a statement, Towers’ attorneys John Amari and Dain Stewart called Robeson’s death a “tragic event.”
Whitney Robeson, 22, studied interior design at Auburn before getting a job at RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware. (Instagram/@whitneyharlowdesign)
“We know that the facts will show that Mr. Towers has no criminal history, has been a productive and upstanding citizen for his entire life and is not guilty of these charges,” they wrote.
Robeson’s death was initially reported as accidental to the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner’s Office, according to AL.com.
In an online obituary, Robeson’s family revealed she had wanted to work in interior design since her childhood, inspired by shows on HGTV.
Whitney Robeson, a 22-year-old Auburn University graduate from Richmond, Virginia, was shot and killed on March 7 at a home in Trussville, Alabama. (Instagram/@whitneyharlowdesign)
After graduating summa cum laude from Auburn’s interior design program, she got a job as a trade consultant for RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, doing just that.
She grew up in Richmond, where she had been a lifeguard and a clerk at boutique shops downtown, according to the obituary.
Towers has been freed after posting $30,000 bail. He’s due back in court on July 22.
–>
