A Walker County judge has set a $250,000 cash-only bond for Timothy Braden Crawford, the 18-year-old charged with murder in the shooting death of Stephen Justus “Fro” Morrow near a Walmart in Sumiton, Alabama.
Morrow, 46, was shot on June 3 in a parking lot near the Walmart on Highway 78 after police said an earlier dispute began inside the store. Crawford remains accused of murder, and the charge has not been tested at trial.
The bond decision came after an Aniah’s Law hearing, where prosecutors argued Crawford posed a danger to the community. The defense said Crawford acted in self-defense and pointed to his age, lack of criminal history, employment, and developmental challenges.
Judge Henry Allred ruled Crawford could be released only under strict terms. Those conditions include home confinement, no firearms, no social media use, and no contact with Morrow’s family or the friends who were with Crawford that night.
Police Say Cart Bump Started Dispute
Investigators said the confrontation began inside the Sumiton Walmart when Morrow accidentally bumped a teenager with a shopping cart. The contact reportedly led to a verbal dispute involving Crawford.
Morrow later called 911 outside the store. Court testimony said a Walmart employee stayed near Morrow and his wife, Kayla, while they waited for officers.
The couple then continued shopping before leaving through a different exit. Investigators testified that Crawford allegedly followed them after they left the store.
Police said Morrow called 911 a second time because he did not want Crawford to know where he lived. The vehicles later ended up near Las Reyes 2 Mexican Restaurant, a business close to the Walmart.
The shooting happened in the nearby parking lot. Morrow was struck in the chest and later died at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.
Teen Charged After Fatal Parking Lot Shooting
Sumiton police charged Crawford with murder after the fatal shooting. Police said Crawford left the scene in a truck before officers later tracked the vehicle to his parents’ home in Dora.
Authorities recovered a 9-millimeter handgun from inside the truck, investigators testified during the bond hearing. Crawford’s parents reportedly contacted police after he returned home, and he later surrendered.
Police said video evidence challenged Crawford’s initial claim that Morrow tried to run him off the road before the shooting. Investigators also testified that Crawford admitted he followed Morrow after the Walmart encounter.
The defense gave a different account of the final moments. Crawford’s attorney said Morrow broke the passenger-side window of Crawford’s truck and tried to get inside before the gunfire.
Investigators testified that Morrow did confront Crawford at the truck and reached inside after breaking the window. Prosecutors focused on the earlier allegation that Crawford followed Morrow after the dispute at the store.
Wife Recalls Husband’s Final Words
Kayla Morrow publicly described the moments after her husband was shot. People reported Morrow’s final words to his wife as, “Kayla, I’m dying and I love you.”
She also said she keeps seeing the scene when she closes her eyes. Her post described the trauma of watching her husband die and the pain their family now faces.
Stephen Morrow was remembered by loved ones as a husband and father. Reports identified his son as Elijah, who Kayla said struggled with the loss.
A fundraiser was started for the family after the shooting. The campaign listed funeral costs, household needs, and support for Morrow’s wife and child.
Court Hears Defense Claims About Crawford
During the hearing, Crawford’s father testified that his son has dyslexia and is on the autism spectrum. The defense said Crawford functions at a lower level of maturity than many people his age.
Crawford’s attorney also noted that he had no criminal record and had steady work. The defense argued those details should weigh against holding him without bond.
Prosecutors pushed back. They argued the alleged decision to follow Morrow after the Walmart dispute made Crawford a danger to the community.
The judge did not deny bond entirely. Instead, he set a high cash-only bond and placed tight limits on Crawford if he is released before trial.
Those restrictions are designed to control contact, movement, weapons access, and online activity while the murder case continues.
Nearby Workers Describe Uneasy Scene
The shooting rattled workers and customers near the Highway 78 shopping area. ABC 33/40 spoke with nearby workers who described concern after violence broke out near businesses that many residents visit regularly.
The shooting happened near a Walmart and restaurant, not in a remote area. That location made the case especially unsettling for people who work in the shopping center.
WBRC also reported the bond hearing and described the police testimony about the Walmart argument, the alleged following, and the later confrontation near the restaurant.
Police said there was no continuing threat to the public after Crawford was arrested. The case remains in the court system, and Crawford has not been convicted.
Murder Case Moves Through Walker County Court
Crawford now faces the next steps in the Walker County court as prosecutors continue pursuing the murder charge. Future hearings may examine surveillance footage, 911 calls, witness statements, forensic evidence, and the competing claims about self-defense.
The case centers on a short chain of events that began inside a Walmart and ended with Morrow dying in a nearby parking lot. Police said the first dispute began with an accidental bump with a shopping cart. Investigators said the suspect later followed the victim.
Morrow’s family is left grieving while the criminal case moves forward. Crawford remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
