In the quiet, rural town of Pine Hill, Alabama, a dispute between hunters over alleged poaching escalated into a fatal encounter, leaving one man dead and a community in shock. Robert Shane Manley, a 47-year-old White male from Mobile who frequented Wilcox County for hunting, was found shot to death in the Red Creek area on January 21, 2018. The incident stemmed from ongoing issues with trespassing and illegal hunting on the property where Manley was a member of a hunting lease.
On the
day of the shooting, Manley had reportedly confronted individuals he suspected of poaching on the land. He had previously contacted the local game warden about these concerns and had even attempted to install a camera to catch the trespassers, but the camera was stolen. Following a confrontation, Manley was fatally shot with buckshot in the head and upper torso area. Despite his injuries, he managed to make his way back towards his truck where he was discovered by a fellow hunter and his stepson. He succumbed to his wounds at the scene.
The investigation led by the Wilcox County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency pointed to a local man, Ronald Price Jr., 37, from the Red Creek community. Over two months after the killing, Price Jr. was arrested and charged with the murder of Robert Shane Manley. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of Ronald Price Sr., 60, who was charged with hindering prosecution and receiving stolen property in connection to the case. The arrests brought a sense of resolution to the community, though the tragic loss of Manley continued to be felt by his family and friends.
Robert Shane Manley was remembered as an avid fisherman, hunter, and a devoted fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide. A graduate of Baker High School, he was a long-time employee at AKZO Nobel, where he had received multiple service awards. He was survived by his wife, two stepsons, his mother, and a sister. His death served as a somber reminder of how disputes, particularly in rural settings involving firearms, can quickly spiral into tragedy.
