In the early morning hours of a Monday in Gulf Shores, Alabama, a violent encounter cut short the life of Scott Vann West. On June 19, 2017, the 31-year-old male was at an Exxon gas station when he was shot in the parking lot. Police responded to reports of the shooting at approximately 8 a.m. and discovered West, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation was immediately launched by the Gulf Shores Police Department.
Their efforts quickly led to a suspect, and a short time after the fatal shooting, 26-year-old Albert Lequentin Smiley was arrested in connection with the death of West. Smiley was subsequently charged with murder. Authorities have indicated that they are not searching for any other individuals in relation to the incident.
Scott Vann West, originally from Salisbury, North Carolina, was a father and worked in construction. He was remembered for his love of playing the drums and riding motorcycles. His death was a sudden and tragic event that led to an immediate arrest and the beginning of a long legal process for the man accused of ending his life.
