A routine Friday night stop at a small gas station in Slapout, Alabama ended in tragedy when a dispute over a simple gesture turned into a deadly shooting. Local authorities say 23-year-old Aaron Mays now faces a murder charge after fatally shooting 42-year-old Joel Austin Whitus outside the Marathon station on Highway 111 known by locals as “The Girl’s Store.”
Whitus had pulled up with friends and was sitting in a car when Mays and his girlfriend were nearby. Sheriff’s deputies say the trouble started when Whitus, for reasons people are still trying to understand, lightly touched Mays’ vehicle as he walked into the store. The bump set off a heated exchange between the men when Whitus returned.
According to the sheriff, Mays confronted Whitus and demanded to know why he hit his car. Whitus told investigators he didn’t know what Mays was talking about. The argument escalated quickly and, at some point, Mays said he saw a handgun tucked in Whitus’ waistband. Feeling threatened, Mays pulled his own gun and shot Whitus in the chest.
Bystanders rushed to help, but Whitus was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to Montgomery for an autopsy. Family members who spoke about the loss described Whitus as a bright, funny man who loved his children deeply. They say telling his daughters what happened was the hardest part of all.
Mays and his girlfriend left the scene after the shooting but returned shortly after law enforcement arrived. Mays was arrested on the spot and booked into the Elmore County Jail without bond. Deputies are reviewing surveillance footage and expect the case to go before a grand jury soon.
The quiet rural community of Slapout is still coming to terms with how quickly a moment’s misunderstanding turned fatal. Whitus’ family is now focused on caring for his young daughters and honoring the memory of a man they say brought joy to everyone who knew him.
