The police reported that a Georgia fire chief died in Alabama after being shot while trying to help a driver who hit a deer.
Sunday when deputies from Chambers County, Alabama were dispatched to County Road 267 near US 431 in Stroud, located about 100 miles northeast of Montgomery.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found three people suffering from gunshot wounds upon arrival, according to a statement from the Chambers County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office released Monday.
One of the shooting victims, identified as James Bartholomew Cauthen, 54, of Moreland, Georgia, was dead when authorities arrived.. The other two were flown by helicopter to trauma centers in LaGrange and Columbus, police said.
“Early investigation indicates that Chief Cauthen was attempting to assist people who had hit a deer while traveling on County Road 267. Another individual (William Randall Franklin) who resided in the area opened fire on Chief Cauthen and the individual who had hit the deer.“said the sheriff’s office.
Police did not immediately say why Franklin may have opened fire on Cauthen and the unnamed person who hit the deer with his car.
“At this time, investigators are working to piece together the events that led to this horrific scene,” the Chambers County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office said.
Murder arrest warrant issued for Franklin and police said he will be arrested upon release from treatment at Piedmont Medical Center.
The Coweta County Fire Department in Georgia mourned the loss of Battalion Chief James “Bart” Cauthen, whom they described as an “incredible, hard-working, gentle-souled man” who served the department for more than 24 years.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to Cauthen’s family, his friends, and our brothers and sisters in the firefighting family who worked closely with him. We want to thank all the agencies that have contacted us to offer their condolences, as well as our community,” they indicated in a post on Facebook.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Chambers County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
The investigation into the shooting remains open.
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