Beloved Ala. Dad Is Killed in Shopping Center Parking Lot, Widow Shares His Last Words

Beloved Ala. Dad Is Killed in Shopping Center Parking Lot, Widow Shares His Last Words https://ift.tt/7f19PNu

Stephen “Fro” Morrow, 46, was fatally shot after a confrontation that investigators say began at a Walmart

Credit: Go Fund Me

NEED TO KNOW

• Stephen Justus “Fro” Morrow, 46, died after a shooting in Sumiton, Ala., on June 3

• His widow, Kayla Morrow, said his final words were: “Kayla, I’m dying and I love you”
• Timothy Braden Crawford, 18, is charged with murder and was granted $250,000 bond during a June 9 court hearing

An Alabama father was fatally shot last week following a confrontation that investigators say began at a Walmart.

Stephen Justus “Fro” Morrow, 46, was identified by WBRC and AL.com as the victim in the June 3 shooting near the retail chain in Sumiton.

Timothy Braden Crawford, 18, was subsequently arrested and charged with murder in connection with the shooting, Sumiton police announced.

During a bond hearing on Tuesday, June 9, a Walker County judge granted Crawford a $250,000 cash-only bond and imposed strict conditions if he is released while awaiting trial, the outlets reported.

Per WBRC, the conditions include remaining on home confinement, refraining from possessing firearms and having no contact with Morrow’s family. 

Credit: Stephen Morrow/Facebook

In the days since Morrow's death, a GoFundMe has been launched to support his family.

His widow, Kayla Morrow, wrote in a Facebook post that his final words were, “Kayla, I’m dying and I love you.”

“Every time I close my eyes all I can see is the scene happening,” she wrote. “This is the hardest thing I have ever had to witness.”

The fundraiser says donations will help cover funeral expenses, daily living costs and provide security for the future of the couple’s son, Eli.

“Eli took it really hard,” Kayla wrote in another Facebook post. “He’s doing okay at the moment. Seeing his little face wrecked me.”

Credit: Google Maps

New details about the events leading up to the shooting emerged during Tuesday’s court hearing.

Investigators testified that the encounter began inside the Walmart when Morrow accidentally bumped into a teenager with a shopping cart, leading to a verbal confrontation involving Crawford, per WBRC and AL.com.

According to hearing testimony reported by the outlets, Morrow later left the store with his wife and Crawford allegedly followed the couple after they departed. Investigators testified that the confrontation eventually moved to the parking lot of a nearby Mexican restaurant.

There, the outlets reported, Morrow allegedly approached Crawford’s truck and broke the passenger-side window before reaching inside the vehicle.

Crawford then allegedly shot Morrow in the chest, according to investigators’ testimony, per the outlets.

Defense attorneys argued during the hearing that Crawford acted in self-defense after Morrow broke the window and attempted to enter the truck, the outlets reported. But according to hearing testimony, approximately 29 minutes elapsed between the confrontation inside the store and the fatal shooting.

Morrow was taken to UAB Hospital, where he later died, according to the Sumiton Police Department.

His funeral was held Monday, AL.com reported.

The case remains under investigation.