Mystery as father, 46, is executed in front of his wife at Alabama mall, as his last words are revealed and suspect is arrested

Published: 01:40, 9 June 2026 | Updated: 01:40, 9 June 2026 A father-of-one was mysteriously shot dead at an Alabama shopping center, leaving the normally safe community reeling in the aftermath. Stephen Justus 'Fro' Morrow, 46, was fatally gunned down at the Walmart shopping center in Sumiton in front of his wife just before 9pm on June 3. He was then rushed to the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, where he was pronounced dead - but not before telling his wife, 'Kayla, I'm dying and I love you,' Al.com reports. In a heartbreaking social media post the following day, Kayla Morrow admitted she was not doing well. '[I don't know] how to feel; what to think; anything in general,' she wrote on Facebook. 'I'm completely numb. I've been awake for almost 40 hours. 'Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is the scene happening,' Kayla continued, calling it 'the hardest thing I have ever had to witness.'  Police have since arrested 18-year-old Timothy Braden Crawford for Morrow's murder, as his remains are being examined by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville. He is due to appear in court for a bond hearing on Tuesday.  Stephen Justus 'Fro' Morrow, 46, was fatally gunned down at the Walmart shopping center in Sumiton, Alabama  just before 9pm on June 3 His final words were to his wife, who had witnessed the shooting Timothy Braden Crawford, 18, is facing murder charges for the shooting In the meantime, it remains unclear what led up to the shooting, including whether Morrow and Crawford knew each other or what may have prompted the encounter. Authorities have only said they are asking the public 'for your understanding, patience and consideration for those affected as the legal process moves forward.' But as questions remain about the shooting, some nearby employees expressed their concerns about their safety. Tristan Pedraza, an employee at Las Reyes 2 recounted to ABC 33 40 how workers were wrapping up for the evening when they learned gunfire erupted nearby. He said his manager's wife was returning to the business to retrieve her phone, when she saw the shooting firsthand. 'Our manager's wife had left her phone so they were backing in to unlock the door to try to get her phone,' Pedraza said.  'When she opened her door, she heard two gunshots and saw the man collapse on the other side of the parking lot.' Pedraza went on to say violence is uncommon in the area, making last week's shooting particularly unsettling for those who work near the busy shopping center. 'It makes me wonder, like, [what's] going through the person's head to do what they did, and knowing that it can happen at any given moment with anyone is definitely scary,' he said. An online obituary notes Stephen 'loved to fish, he loved cars and especially loves his son, Elijah' Community members remembered Stephen as a loving father As the community now awaits answers, many took the time to remember Stephen for the loving father he was. An online obituary notes he 'loved to fish, he loved cars and especially loves his son, Elijah.' Eric Nix also shared online how Stephen 'was such a loving dude to everyone. 'But every time I would run into him, which was often... he never failed to say something about his son. It was very clear how much his family meant to him and he was very, very proud of his son.  'I don't try to make sense of any of this,' Nix continued. 'There's no point. Things like this happen to good people, they always have and probably always will. 'But we can all be grateful for our time with Fro,' he wrote. 'And I personally am proud of him. I'm proud of the dad he was. And I'm proud of the fact that he stood up for his loved ones. 'This area will remember you for a long time to come,' Nix then wrote to Stephen, himself. 'Rest in peace, Fro. Thank you for so many years of friendship.' An online fundraiser has been set up to support Kayla and Elijah Community members are also raising money for Kayla and Eli. 'Kayla is a devoted mother who has always worked hard to provide a loving home for her son, Eli,' an online fundraiser reads. 'Recently, her world was turned upside down when her husband, Stephen, was tragically shot and passed away. 'Kayla is now left to navigate life as a single parent, facing not only overwhelming grief, but also the financial challenges that come with such a sudden loss.' The fundraising page goes on to note that any money raised would help the family with funeral expenses, daily living costs and for Eli's future. 'Kayla has always been there for others and now she needs our help more than ever,' reads the fundraiser, which had reached $10,400 as of Monday evening. 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