Man charged with manslaughter in fatal shooting of beloved Auburn grad at Trussville home

A Trussville man has been charged in a March shooting that left a beloved 22-year-old woman dead. Jeffrey Scott Towers, 54, is charged with manslaughter in the death of Whitney Harlow Robeson, Trussville police announced Monday. As of Monday evening, Towers was being transported to the Jefferson County Jail for booking. His bond was set at $30,000. Details surrounding the shooting – which the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office previously said was reported to be accidental – have not been released. Authorities said Robeson was dating Towers’ son. The shooting happened about 9:30 p.m. on March 7 at Towers’ home in the 7700 block of Deer Trail. Robeson was taken to UAB-ST. Vincent’s East where she was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. Just weeks before she died, the Virginia native began her career in Birmingham as a trade consultant with Restoration Hardware. Following her death, Robeson was described as a young woman grounded by her faith and unwavering, profound love for her friends and her family. “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,” according to her obituary. Robeson was a May 2025 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Auburn University in The College of Human Sciences Interior Design program. “She was known not only for her talent and dedication, but also for her kindness, integrity and deep faith,” according to a Wednesday Facebook post from The College of Human Sciences. “Whitney’s life, though far too short, reflected a spirit of generosity and purpose,” the post read.