Shelby Amidon, a 29-year-old mother, was tragically shot and killed early Thursday morning by Ricky O’Neil Beck Jr., a man who had been stalking her. The incident took place at Amidon’s home in Warrior, Alabama, and led to a dramatic police pursuit that ended with Beck taking his own life.
The Tragic Incident
Amidon, who was pregnant with her second child and married to Nick Amidon, made a 911 call after being shot. In the call, she identified Ricky Beck as the person who had stalked her for some time. It remains unclear how Amidon and Beck knew one another, but reports suggest Beck had been obsessively following her.
Beck, 43, fled the scene in his Chevrolet Z71, taking with him a silver toolbox, according to local police.
The Police Pursuit and Beck’s Death
As Beck attempted to flee, Senior ALEA Trooper Brandon Bailey reported seeing him pull out a gun and ram a Blount County sheriff deputy’s patrol vehicle. The deputy fired shots at Beck, but he managed to escape, setting off a manhunt across the area.
Later that day, Beck’s body was found in a wooded area. It appeared that he had taken his own life, as he was found with a gunshot wound, according to Trooper Bailey.
A Heartbreaking Loss for the Family
Shelby Amidon was married to Nick Amidon, a data analyst at a local bank, and the couple shared one young son. In the wake of the tragedy, Nick’s mother organized a GoFundMe to help support the family during this devastating time.
The fundraiser praised Shelby as a “beautiful soul” who brought love, warmth, and light to those around her.
“No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain,” the GoFundMe organizer wrote. As of Tuesday evening, the campaign was nearing its $12,000 goal.
Ongoing Investigation
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (ASBI) is continuing to investigate the case. While Beck’s death is believed to be a suicide, the authorities are working to gather more details about his connection to Amidon and any further motivations behind the attack.
