CHAMBERS COUNTY, AL - On Sunday, January 19th, Coweta County Fire Chief James Bartholomew Cauthen was shot and killed while helping a stranded couple after they hit a deer in rural Alabama.
FOX 8 reported that investigators said the suspect, 33-year-old William Randall Franklin, opened fire on Cauthen and the driver without warning as they approached Franklin's home seeking help. The shooting happened shortly before 5:00 p.m. on County Road 267 in Chambers County. Cauthen was 54-years-old and has been described as a beloved leader and mentor.
Chambers County Chief Deputy Mike Parrish said that Cauthen had been on nearby property he owned or maintained, spreading hay for cattle and that when he was leaving the property, he noticed a vehicle had struck a deer. He stopped to help the driver and the driver's wife. Parrish said Cauthen and the driver were unable to call for help due to poor cell phone service, so they decided to walk to the nearby home to ask for help.
Investigators said that when Cauthen and the driver approached the driveway, Franklin walked outside of his home and began shooting at the men without warning. Both men were struck. The driver, who was armed, returned fire, wounding Franklin. Cauthen attempted to cross the street, but collapsed in a ditch and succumbed to his injuries before deputies and first responders arrived.
The driver was injured, but is expected to recover. The driver's wife never left the car and was not injured during the shooting. Franklin is expected to survive and will face a murder charge upon his release from the hospital. Parrish called the incident one of the most heartbreaking and bizarre cases in his more than 30 years of service.
Deputies are still investigating the incident and have not yet determined what prompted Franklin to open fire. According to ABC News, in a statement following Cauthen's death, Coweta Fire and Rescue released a statement saying, "Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic passing of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen.
Cauthen has been with our department for more than 24 years. He was an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul. Just like many of you, we have many questions as we navigate through this horrible tragedy. 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."
NBC News reported that Franklin has since been released from the hospital and is awaiting extradition from Muscogee County, Georgia, to Chambers County, Alabama, where he has a warrant for murder in connection to Cauthen's killing. While the motive remains unclear, Franklin's family has said that he has mental health issues. Parrish said that a deputy who responded to the scene said that Franklin appeared to be intoxicated. The shooting remains under investigation.
FOX 8 reported that investigators said the suspect, 33-year-old William Randall Franklin, opened fire on Cauthen and the driver without warning as they approached Franklin's home seeking help. The shooting happened shortly before 5:00 p.m. on County Road 267 in Chambers County. Cauthen was 54-years-old and has been described as a beloved leader and mentor.
Chambers County Chief Deputy Mike Parrish said that Cauthen had been on nearby property he owned or maintained, spreading hay for cattle and that when he was leaving the property, he noticed a vehicle had struck a deer. He stopped to help the driver and the driver's wife. Parrish said Cauthen and the driver were unable to call for help due to poor cell phone service, so they decided to walk to the nearby home to ask for help.
Investigators said that when Cauthen and the driver approached the driveway, Franklin walked outside of his home and began shooting at the men without warning. Both men were struck. The driver, who was armed, returned fire, wounding Franklin. Cauthen attempted to cross the street, but collapsed in a ditch and succumbed to his injuries before deputies and first responders arrived.
The driver was injured, but is expected to recover. The driver's wife never left the car and was not injured during the shooting. Franklin is expected to survive and will face a murder charge upon his release from the hospital. Parrish called the incident one of the most heartbreaking and bizarre cases in his more than 30 years of service.
Deputies are still investigating the incident and have not yet determined what prompted Franklin to open fire. According to ABC News, in a statement following Cauthen's death, Coweta Fire and Rescue released a statement saying, "Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic passing of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen.
Cauthen has been with our department for more than 24 years. He was an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul. Just like many of you, we have many questions as we navigate through this horrible tragedy. 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."
NBC News reported that Franklin has since been released from the hospital and is awaiting extradition from Muscogee County, Georgia, to Chambers County, Alabama, where he has a warrant for murder in connection to Cauthen's killing. While the motive remains unclear, Franklin's family has said that he has mental health issues. Parrish said that a deputy who responded to the scene said that Franklin appeared to be intoxicated. The shooting remains under investigation.
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Comments
2025-01-24T21:03-0500 | Comment by: Paul
Yep, make sure to put out there that he was crazy before all else!