A horrific incident in Alabama has left a fire chief dead after he stopped to help a driver who had hit a deer. Chief James Bartholomew Cauthen was shot and killed by a local resident, William Randall Franklin, who opened fire on both the chief and the deer-struck driver. Franklin is facing a murder charge and will be arrested upon his release from the hospital.
A fire chief in Alabama was tragically shot and killed while stopping to help a driver who had hit a deer with their vehicle. The incident unfolded on Sunday evening in Stroud, a town located approximately 100 miles northeast of Montgomery. Chambers County deputies responded to a report of a vehicle collision on County Road 267 near U.S. 431. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, identified as 54-year-old James Bartholomew Cauthen from Moreland, Georgia, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two victims were airlifted to trauma centers in LaGrange and Columbus for treatment. Initial investigations suggest that Chief Cauthen was attempting to render assistance to the driver who had struck the deer when another individual, William Randall Franklin, a local resident, opened fire on both Cauthen and the deer-struck driver. A shootout ensued, resulting in injuries to all involved. Tragically, Chief Cauthen succumbed to his wounds before deputies arrived. The motive behind Franklin's actions remains unclear, but police have confirmed that Cauthen served as a battalion fire chief with Coweta County Fire. An arrest warrant for murder has been issued against Franklin, and authorities anticipate his arrest upon his release from Piedmont Medical Center, where he is currently receiving treatment. Coweta County Fire Rescue expressed their profound grief over the loss of Chief Cauthen, who had dedicated over 24 years of service to the department. They remembered him as a dedicated, hardworking, and kind individual. The department extended their heartfelt condolences to Cauthen's family, friends, and colleagues within the fire service community.
ALABAMA FIRE CHIEF SHOOTING DEER COLLISION MURDER CHARGE
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