In a TikTok that has been viewed over 4.1 million times, Maria Morris, alleges that the mother of her husband-to-be’s child arranged for him to be murdered. Now she’s calling for justice for Justin Goolsby and sharing her story on the platform under the hashtag #justiceforjustin.
What happened to Justin Goolsby?
According to reports, Goolsby was shot dead at an I-49 gas station on the evening of September 22, 2021. RELATED: Mother Arrested After Decomposing Body Of Her Son Was Found In Apartment With 3 Other Abandoned Children A suspect, Steven Sam Vignolo, 62, was arrested shortly after the shooting after witnesses claimed they saw him toss the gun and enter a nearby Burger King. According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Nevada Police Department the victim and suspect knew each other.
Justin Goolsby’s fiancee explained her version of events on TikTok.
“On September 22 of this year, Justin was murdered,” Morris explains through tears, “Shot five times in the chest at Pilot here in Nevada, Missouri.” Morris claims that Goolsby was supposed to be collecting his daughter at the gas station. “His daughter’s mom,” she alleges, “Had her father come up to the exchange point and murder him.” Morris further claims that exchanges typically happened at Goolsby’s daughter’s school but the mother had changed the plan last minute, claiming her daughter didn’t go to school that day. RELATED: Weighted Down Gun Found In Florida Park Where Brian Laundrie’s Family Went Camping After Gabby Petito’s Death Morris says that she had originally gone to collect her fiance’s daughter but the mother allegedly refused to meet anyone but Goolsby — which was reportedly unusual because Morris had collected the child alone in the past. In a Facebook post that allegedly shows a text exchange between Goolsby and the mother of his child, messages appear to verify Morris’ claims that the arrangement was changed last minute. The woman can also be seen telling Goolsby she would be late for the exchange shortly before he was shot.
The grandfather of Justin Goolsby’s daughter has been arrested.
Vignolo was charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action following his arrest. As part of the investigation Capt. Westerhold interviewed the suspect in jail. “During the interview with him, Vignolo reported he was angry at Goolsby for allegedly inappropriately touching his (Goolsby’s) daughter, who is also Vignolo’s grandchild,” Westerhold reported. “He knew that Goolsby was going to have a child custody exchange this evening and he knew it normally happens at Pilot Travel Center.” “Vignolo reported he walked to Pilot from 71 Motel and seen Goolsby’s truck in the parking lot. He walked up to the vehicle to confront Goosby and shot inside the vehicle multiple times,” the report continues. “He told me that he walked up and said the victim’s name and starting shooting. He then walked back to the west until law enforcement contacted him at Burger King.” Morris, however, claims that the exchanges did not normally happen at Pilot and claims Vignolo’s daughter arranged the shooting. Goolsby is 32, is not listed on the Missouri or Kansas Sex Offender Registry and Vignolo’s daughter has not been officially linked to the shooting. RELATED: How Publicity From Gabby Petito’s Case Led To The Discovery Of 7 Other Missing People Alice Kelly is a senior news and entertainment editor for YourTango. Based out of Brooklyn, New York, her work covers all things social justice, pop culture, and human interest. Keep up with her Twitter for more.
