A father accidentally shot his son’s girlfriend dead as he showed off his antique gun that he didn’t realize was loaded, a coroner’s report alleged.
Whitney Harlow Robeson, 22, died from a single gunshot wound on March 7 at her boyfriend Brandon Towers’ home in Trussville, Alabama.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office called the shooting an accidental homicide at the time, until Brandon’s father was abruptly arrested on May 11
Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, was charged with manslaughter and released on $30,000 bail hours later, but court documents didn’t reveal how Robeson was shot.
However, the autopsy report alleged Towers was showing off his antique gun collection when Robeson was visiting Brandon.
Towers was allegedly holding a Colt Navy single action revolver that he didn’t realize was loaded, and it went off unexpectedly.
The bullet tore into Robeson’s chest, causing a fatal ‘injury to left lung, heart, and aorta’, according to the coroner’s report.
Robeson, a recent university graduate, had just started as a trade consultant with Restoration Hardware in Birmingham, Alabama, when she was killed.
Whitney Harlow Robeson, 22, died from a single gunshot wound on March 7 at her boyfriend’s home in Trussville, Alabama
Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, was abruptly charged with manslaughter on Monday after being arrested without incident about 5pm
Towers’ lawyers, John Amari and Dain Stewart at Amari Law Firm, have denied he was criminally responsible for Robeson’s death.
‘What happened to Ms. Robeson was a tragic event,’ they said in a statement.
‘While we understand that the justice system must play out, 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.’
Robeson graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University in the College of Human Sciences interior design program.
‘Whitney lived with inimitable grace; keen, quiet attentiveness and loyalty; boundless generosity and an uncanny way of always knowing just what she needed to do,’ her family wrote in her obituary.
‘This marvelous, independent woman was on the cusp of her successful career in interior design: the job she had always wanted since she was a little girl watching HGTV.
‘In the precious little time she had been in that role, Whitney’s new colleagues and supervisor were instantly taken by her kindness, talent, attentiveness, and integrity.’
Robeson was visiting her boyfriend Brandon Towers (pictured) when she was shot
Robeson had recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University and was beginning a career in interior design. She is pictured (center) with her family
Robeson, pictured, is seen in a cheerful selfie taken before her death, which was initially ruled an accident
Robeson’s former sorority also posted a glowing tribute to her.
‘We are incredibly grateful to have shared in her friendship, and our chapter will forever cherish the memories we made together,’ the tribute said.
A new initiative called Wrapped in Whitney’s Love has been set up to honor her memory.
It will give new mothers and their babies swaddles and other essential supplies to help them get off to a good start in life.
