Popular Fire Chief Killed While Helping Couple Whose Car Struck a Deer

A longtime battalion fire chief in Georgia was shot and killed Sunday while assisting a couple whose vehicle struck a deer in rural Alabama.

The Coweta County Fire Rescue is mourning James Bartholomew Cauthen, 54, remembering him as "an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul," who worked for the department for more than 24 years.

The incident, described by authorities as "bizarre," also left the driver injured and the alleged shooter, William Randall Franklin, facing murder charges.

What To Know

The shooting unfolded in Chambers County, Alabama, just west of the Georgia border. According to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, Cauthen stopped to assist a couple after their car hit a deer on County Road 267 in the Stroud community.

With no cell service, Cauthen and the driver walked to a nearby home to seek help. At that point, the homeowner, identified as 34-year-old William Randall Franklin, opened fire, fatally striking Cauthen and injuring the driver.

The driver, who was armed, returned fire, injuring Franklin. The driver's wife, who remained in the vehicle, was unhurt. Law enforcement arrived and transported Franklin and the injured driver to trauma centers in Georgia. Franklin was released from the hospital Monday and arrested on a murder warrant. He remains in custody in Muscogee County, Georgia, awaiting extradition to Alabama.

The Sheriff's Office confirmed that Cauthen was declared dead at the scene.

What People Are Saying

Chambers County Chief Deputy Mike Parrish, to WTVM: "A deer wreck...you pull up and three people are shot––it just don't make sense any way you look at it. We just really didn't know what happened. It was just bizarre."

Coweta County firefighter Cody Darracott, Monday on Facebook: "Definitely an eerie sense of emptiness in the bay this morning. The post described Cauthen as the "epitome of a Godly, selfless, hardworking man."

Coweta County Fire Rescue, in a statement: "Just like many of you, we have many questions as we navigate through this horrible tragedy," the department wrote. "Our hearts and prayers go out to Cauthen's family, friends and our brothers and sisters in the Fire Rescue family who worked closely with him."

Coweta County Sheriff's Office: "Our hearts and prayers go out to Coweta County for his loss."

What Happens Next

Franklin has been charged with murder. He remains in custody in Muscogee County Jail, where he awaits extradition to Chambers County, Alabama.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.