The grieving parents of a recent Auburn University graduate have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the father of her boyfriend, who allegedly shot her just weeks after she began her dream career in interior design. The lawsuit, filed in court, also targets an unidentified gun manufacturer.

Whitney Robeson, a 22-year-old originally from Richmond, Virginia, tragically lost her life on the evening of March 7. According to the lawsuit, a bullet struck her upper chest, and despite medical efforts, she was declared dead approximately an hour later at a local hospital.

Initially, the shooting was reported as an accident, with the coroner’s preliminary assessment labeling it as such due to insufficient information. Johnny Amari, the defense attorney, has consistently characterized the incident as a “tragic” and “unfortunate accident.”

A composite image features Auburn alumni Brandon Towers alongside Whitney Robeson on one side, and Brandon’s father, Jeffrey Towers, on the other. The lawsuit accuses the elder Towers of “inadvertently” firing a gun, leading to Robeson’s death at his residence in Alabama.

Approximately two months after the incident, authorities in Trussville, located around 15 miles northeast of Birmingham, arrested 54-year-old Jeffrey Towers on charges of manslaughter related to the fatal shooting.

“Innocent until proven guilty is not just a sacred rule, it’s a legal standard,” said Amari, one of Towers’ criminal defense attorneys. “Our position is he’s not guilty of the offense that he’s charged with.”

Towers has not yet entered a plea. He was released on $30,000 bond, the highest amount for a Class B felony like manslaughter, Amari said. He is due back in court on July 22.

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)

“Nothing that we do or say as a criminal defense team…diminishes the fact that a life was lost here — and a special life,” Amari told Fox News Digital. “This girl was special to my client, special to my client’s family.”

Robeson and Towers’ 22-year-old son, Brandon Towers, attended Auburn University together and were dating at the time of her death. Weeks before the shooting, she had just started a job in interior design at RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware.

“We believe even when a mistake is made, you have the right to your criminal defense, you have the rights to force the state to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, and that’s all we’re exercising,” Amari said. “It doesn’t in any way diminish the loss of life that we know is valuable.”

Read the lawsuit:

Amari’s law firm was not representing Towers in the civil case as of Tuesday morning.

Although the prosecution’s version of events has not yet been made public, the civil lawsuit alleges previously unseen details about Robeson’s last moments.

Towers was in the attic of his home on Deer Trail with his son and Robeson, showing them “a collection of antique firearms,” according to the lawsuit. While handling a .22-caliber revolver, he “inadvertently” discharged a round, which caused the fatal injuries to Robeson’s heart and left lung.

“Whether known or unknown to Defendant Towers, the firearm being handled was loaded, and as he displayed the weapon to Whitney and his son, a single shot was inadvertently discharged,” the lawsuit states. “The discharged bullet struck 22-year-old Whitney Robeson in the upper left side of her chest.”

Brandon Towers and Whitney Robeson in an undated family photo. Towers’ father, Jeffrey Towers, is accused of “inadvertently” discharging an antique firearm, which fatally wounded his son’s girlfriend, Robeson, a 22-year-old recent graduate of Auburn University who had just started a career in interior design. (Brandon Towers/Instagram)

The lawsuit alleges that he handled the weapon negligently and that the gunmaker produced the revolver with design flaws that made it “unfit for its ordinary purpose.”

“Defendant Towers, with reckless indifference to the consequences and a conscious disregard for the safety of others, engaged in the unsafe handling of a firearm without verifying whether the weapon was loaded,” the lawsuit alleges.

It later claims he handled the gun with “a complete lack of knowledge of firearm safety, firearm mechanics, or how to safely handle firearms.”

Although the lawsuit doesn’t use the gunmaker’s name, it includes 14 unnamed co-defendants who can be identified later under Alabama law.

Whitney Robeson, 22, studied interior design at Auburn before getting a job at RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware. (Instagram/@whitneyharlowdesign)

Robeson’s parents, Carin and Matthew Robeson, are relying on the state’s Extended Manufacturer’s Liability Doctrine to additionally allege that the firearm was defectively designed, “unfit for its ordinary purpose,” and lacked adequate safety features “as to prevent inadvertent discharge.”

“At its core, this matter involves the tragic and unnecessary death of a 22-year-old young woman whose life was cut short far too soon,” their attorney, Andrew Moak, said in a statement. “Whitney was a daughter, loved one, and member of her community, and that should never be lost in the discussion surrounding this case.”

He said the family is seeking justice and accountability. The lawsuit does not specify monetary damages being sought.

In an online obituary, Robeson’s family revealed she had wanted to work in interior design since her childhood, inspired by shows on HGTV. 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.

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A town official from New York has been sentenced following an incident where he shot a DoorDash delivery driver who had come to his residence seeking directions.

John Reilly, the 49-year-old Highway Superintendent for the Town of Chester, received a 17-year prison sentence on Monday. Additionally, he will be required to complete five years of supervision after his release, stemming from a shooting incident that occurred last May.

In a statement, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler remarked, “The severe sentence handed to this defendant appropriately reflects his callous disregard for human life. The victim now faces life-changing injuries due to the defendant’s violent actions.”

He continued, “This case is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by firearms in the hands of individuals who should not possess them. I hope the victim and their family find some solace in knowing that the police and prosecutors have worked to secure a measure of justice.”

Reilly was found guilty of assault and illegal weapon possession after he shot at Alpha Barry, an African migrant, and his Toyota Corolla on the evening of May 2, 2025.

Barry, 24, had approached Reilly’s house in Chester with a bag of food when he forgot the address of the house he’d been tasked to deliver to when his phone battery died.

But, the situation escalated with Reilly retrieving his .45 caliber gun and shouting “Go” before firing repeatedly at Barry’s car.

One of the shots fired pierced the car and struck Barry in his lower back, leaving him with “devastating injuries,” according to officials.

Barry, who had only moved to the US in October 2024, drove away from the scene before collapsing at home.

He was forced to undergo emergency surgery, and two feet of his small bowel were removed after the .45 caliber bullet didn’t exit his body.

“For half a year, my life was dictated by a colostomy bag,” Barry wrote in a statement read out by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold at the start of the sentencing, according to WAMC.

“This was not just a medical necessity. It was a constant source of physical pain and deep emotional stress.

“The simple everyday act of using the bathroom became a source of anxiety and trauma. I lived in constant fear and discomfort, never knowing when the next moment of pain or embarrassment would occur. This experience isolated me from the world.”

The shooting was caught on Reilly’s doorbell camera – and his wife Selina Nelson-Reilly admitted to illegally deleting more than 12 videos that captured the crime, the Times-Union reported.

She struck a plea deal that saw her put on probation for a year, and forced to do 200 hours of community service.

During his trial, Reilly’s team tried to claim he opened fire in self-defense as Barry had turned up with food from a restaurant he hadn’t ordered from.

Jurors didn’t buy the claim as he was convicted on several assault charges – and prosecutors lobbied for a 24-year sentence.

Hoovler said the 17-year sentence “justly reflects” the nature of Reilly’s crimes – while Barry’s lawyer, Rudyard Whyte, said that “we accept the verdict, we don’t take any pleasure in it, but we accept it based on the gravity of the situation.”

Reilly was initially indicted on attempted murder charges, but jurors didn’t consider it after instructions from the judge.

He was elected in 2021 and had given no indication he would step down from his role.

Brandon Holdridge, the Chester supervisor, called for Reilly’s resignation, telling News12 he had become a “huge distraction.”

Reilly must resign as he’s convicted of a felony, according to state law, but his lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, said he will file an appeal.

The public might soon be encouraged to aim for up to 90 minutes of daily exercise, following groundbreaking research that suggests current guidelines are insufficient for significantly reducing the risk of heart disease.

Although the NHS currently advises a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, the recent study revealed that engaging in more physical activity substantially lowers the chances of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Chinese researchers, publishing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, propose that the traditional ‘one-size-fits-all’ exercise guidelines may need to be re-evaluated based on their findings.

The research team from Macao Polytechnic University delved into data from 17,088 participants in the UK Biobank study, who had an average age of 57, utilizing comprehensive medical and lifestyle records from individuals across the UK.

To evaluate cardiovascular fitness, the researchers focused on participants’ estimated VO2 max, an essential indicator of the body’s oxygen utilization efficiency during exercise and a crucial marker of heart and lung health.

Participants, more than half of whom were women, wore wrist devices to track their activity levels, while their VO2 max was monitored over seven consecutive days.

Researchers also accounted for factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, diet, overall health, body mass index, resting heart rate and blood pressure.

Over an average follow-up period of nearly eight years, 1,233 participants – around 7.2 per cent – experienced a cardiovascular event.

Researchers have found that exercising for 560 and 610 minutes per week – the equivalent of around 80 to 90 minutes per day – is required to significantly feel heart health benefits

Of these, 874 were cases of atrial fibrillation – an irregular heart rhythm disorder that can increase the risk of blood clots and stroke.

There were also 156 heart attacks, 111 cases of heart failure and 92 strokes.

Those who met the 150-minute weekly target were found to be around eight to nine per cent less likely to experience such an event.

By contrast, those exercising for between 560 and 610 minutes per week saw their risk reduced by around 30 per cent – though only 11.6 per cent of participants reached this level.

The study also found that people with the lowest fitness levels needed an additional 30 to 50 minutes of exercise per week, on average, to achieve the same cardiovascular benefits as fitter individuals.

For example, achieving a 20 per cent reduction in cardiovascular risk required 370 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week for those with the lowest fitness levels, compared with 340 minutes for those with the highest.

As the study was observational, it cannot prove that exercise directly caused the reduced risk in cardiovascular events.

However, the researchers believe that their findings show that while the current 150–minute guideline is effective, advising certain people to exercise more often could be beneficial.

The NHS advises that adults should do some form of physical activity every day, but says exercising just once or twice a week can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

This makes up their guidance to exercise for at least 150 minutes per week at moderate to vigorous levels.

Moderate exercise, they say, ‘will raise your heart rate, and make you breathe faster and feel warmer.’

They add: ‘One way to tell if you’re working at a moderate intensity level is if you can still talk, but not sing.’

Vigorous exercise, meanwhile, ‘makes you breathe hard and fast’, the NHS says, adding: ‘You will not be able to say more than a few words without pausing for breath.’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The YOLO caucus is convening.

In a Republican-controlled Congress often characterized by its loyalty to President Donald Trump, a small but gradually expanding group is emerging—those willing to diverge from the White House line. While Trump continues to command considerable support among Republican voters, this growing faction could pose challenges to his policies, affecting issues from the Iran conflict to border security funding, particularly when the party’s majority in Congress is fragile.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has recently joined this group. Following his primary loss to a challenger backed by Trump, Cassidy made a notable shift by siding with Democrats on legislation to limit U.S. military actions in Iran.

“Our Constitution is designed for Congress to hold the executive branch accountable,” Cassidy remarked to reporters the day prior to the vote.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas might follow suit, as Trump has thrown his support behind Ken Paxton, Cornyn’s opponent in the upcoming Republican primary runoff.

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is perhaps a founding member of the YOLO caucus, having frustrated Trump since the president’s first term, and his status was solidified after losing his primary on Tuesday to a Trump-backed challenger.

Massie has enraged Trump by voting against his signature tax and spending bill and by pushing for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

He hinted there’s more to come before he leaves office.

“I got seven months left in Congress,” Massie said with a grin during his concession speech as the crowd erupted.

More Republicans feel free to shrug off Trump

Other similarly situated Republicans include Sen. Thom Tillis, who was a fierce critic of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and has more recently turned his attention to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. There’s also Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who joined Democrats last week in a bid to curb Trump’s war powers in Iran. Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have voted against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. And in the House, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska has pushed to reclaim congressional power over tariffs.

“If the legislative branch always votes with the president, we do have a king,” Massie said in his concession speech Tuesday.

This hardly amounts to a revival of the Never Trump movement that some Republicans unsuccessfully hoped would curb the president’s excesses during his first term or block him from returning to office. Many in the party, including Trump’s occasional detractors, have either stood by or been unable to block the president as he launched the war in Iran and presided over an aggressive immigration enforcement operation and the dismantling of the federal workforce.

Today’s unencumbered Republicans don’t fit into an ideological box. But they are united by a sense of emboldenment that can only be attained in a few ways in Trump’s Washington.

Many, like Tillis, McConnell and Bacon, have decided to retire and can cast votes knowing they’ll never again have to face Republican primary voters. Others like Collins and Murkowski have more leeway because they represent states that tend to reward political independence. And some like Massie banked on the idea that voters could support both Trump and someone who occasionally crossed him.

It’s a paradox for Trump. As he demands total loyalty and pushes out Republican dissenters, he’s left with a growing cohort who, for one reason or another, owe Trump nothing.

Democrats look to capitalize

That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who are already governing with threadbare majorities. Shifting loyalties of even a few Republican lawmakers could dramatically complicate the ability for either chamber to pass substantial legislation ahead of the November midterm elections.

The next tests could come later this week as Thune pushes a funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol designed to pass on a party line basis.

Democrats are eager to pounce.

Speaking at an event in Washington on Tuesday sponsored by the Center for American Progress, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would aim to drive a wedge between Republicans by using a so-called discharge petition to bring issues directly to the floor for a vote.

That tactic has been successful in securing House passage on issues ranging from the Epstein files to temporary protection of Haitian immigrants.

“When we’re disciplined and when we’re focused and when we put pressure in particular on the so-called swing seat Republicans, they have been breaking with us,” Jeffries said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters on Tuesday that Trump’s endorsement of Cornyn’s rival was a sign that his political power lies within the Republican base — not the American public at large.

“He’s showed the only influence he has, and that’s an outsize influence within the base of the party,” the potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender told reporters in Washington. “Otherwise he’s shown little to no influence with the American people.”

Counting the votes

That leaves Republicans gaming out how they might cobble together the votes needed to pass legislation.

Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota called Cassidy a “good friend” and said the loss was “tough for him.” He said Cassidy “will always vote in line with what he thinks is best” but doubted he will become a less reliable Republican vote.

His fellow Louisianan, Sen. John Kennedy, said Cassidy deploys power “rationally and maturely” and “will continue to do the same thing.”

Cassidy repeatedly rejected the notion that he will spend his final months in Washington as a troublemaker for Trump, saying he’s going to do “what’s good for my country and my state.”

Yet the independent streak that ended his political career quickly resurfaced. A week after Trump visited China, Cassidy spoke of a western alliance that’s “totally falling apart” and will be unable to “push back on the threat China represents.” He seemed stunned that the administration would create a nearly $1.8 trillion fund to compensate Trump allies who they believe have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted.

“I just came off the campaign trail,” he said. “People are concerned about making their own ends meet, not about putting a slush fund together without a legal precedent.”

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