A well-regarded Alabama hearth chief who stopped to assist a driver that hit a deer was killed when a home-owner opened hearth on the pair Sunday night time, in keeping with authorities.
Coweta County Hearth Battalion Chief James Bartholomew Cauthen and the motive force concerned within the accident had been strolling up a driveway close to County Highway 276 in Chambers County round 5 p.m. in search of assist when William Randall Franklin started to allegedly shoot on the pair with out warning, authorities advised WRBL on Monday.
Cauthen, 54, and the motive force had been each hit by gunfire, with the fireplace chief pronounced lifeless on the scene, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in a information launch.
The driving force was wounded and is predicted to outlive.
The alleged gunman, 33, was additionally injured in what police described as a shootout after the motive force, who was armed, returned hearth, Chambers County Chief Deputy Mike Parrish advised WRBL.
The 2 victims didn’t have cell service, which reportedly led them to strategy Franklin’s house.
Cauthen solely caught wind of the deer crash as a result of he was tending to property he both owned or took care of close by, in keeping with authorities.
“Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic passing of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen,” the fallen chief’s division mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
“Cauthen has been with our department for more than 24 years. He was an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul.”
Franklin is predicted to get better from his wounds and can then be charged with homicide, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
The spouse of the motive force additionally concerned within the deer crash by no means left the automobile and was not injured.
The sheriff’s workplace mentioned the deputy that first arrived on the scene was left shaken by the bloody path.
“This was an exceptional call that nobody could have been prepared for,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned on Fb.
“Our first deputy on the scene thought he was pulling up on a simple deer wreck. Instead, he found 3 individuals with gunshot wounds. Nothing could’ve prepared him for that.”
Allegations surrounding the deadly gun violence in Alabama are paying homage to the upstate New York home-owner who opened hearth on a automobile that accidently drove up his driveway in 2023, killing 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis.
The shooter in that case, Kevin Monahan, was sentenced to 25 years to life final yr after he was convicted at trial.
