In the summer of 2016, a gathering at a residence in Mobile County, Alabama, took a dark and violent turn, ending in the tragic death of Duane Massingale, age 65. On June 27, 2016, Aubrey Allen Rosson was present at the Massingale's home and had been drinking. In a sudden and shocking declaration, Rosson announced his intention to kill the couple. He then proceeded to shoot Duane Massingale multiple times, inflicting fatal wounds.
The violence did not end with Duane's death.
Rosson also turned his weapon on Veronica Massingale, shooting her as well. Despite being wounded, she fought for her life, attempting to flee before being shot again. In a desperate act of survival, Veronica pretended to be deceased, a decision that ultimately saved her from sharing Duane's fate. The brutal and unprovoked attack left one person dead and another seriously injured, shattering the lives of those involved.
The investigation into the deadly shooting led to the arrest of Aubrey Allen Rosson. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Duane Massingale and the first-degree assault of Veronica Massingale. In October 2018, a jury found Rosson guilty of both charges. For the murder conviction, he was sentenced to life in prison. He received an additional 10-year sentence for the assault on Veronica Massingale.
Following his conviction, Aubrey Allen Rosson sought to have the court's decision overturned. However, his appeal was unsuccessful. On September 13, 2019, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals upheld both the murder and first-degree assault convictions, ensuring that Rosson would serve his sentences for the violent crimes he committed on that fateful June day. The case was successfully prosecuted by the Mobile County District Attorney's office, with the Attorney General's Criminal Appeals Division handling the appeal process.
