CHAMBERS COUNTY, Ala. — A Coweta County Fire battalion chief remembered as a brother, leader and mentor was shot and killed in Alabama on Sunday trying to help a driver who’d hit a deer.
According to the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, Coweta County Fire Battalion Chief James Bartholomew “Bart” Cauthen “was attempting to assist individuals that had struck a deer while traveling on County Road 267” when a nearby resident opened fire on them.
11Alive’s Cody Alcorn learned the suspect, identified as William Randall Franklin, allegedly began firing when Cauthen and the driver who’d struck the deer were walking up Franklin’s driveway to get help.
The driver and Franklin were both also injured in what was described as a shootout. The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office said Franklin would be arrested and charged with murder upon his release from the hospital.
“Tonight, Coweta Fire Rescue is devastated to hear of the loss of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen. We lost one of our brothers, leaders, mentor, and family to a senseless tragedy,” the Coweta County fire service posted on Facebook. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the Cauthen family as they go through this difficult time. We asked that you keep this family in your hearts and prayers.”
The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office described the incident beginning around 5 p.m. when the unidentified driver hit the deer in the Stroud community near US 431. Deputies who responded found all three people involved with gunshot wounds, describing one of them — later identified as Cauthen — dead at the scene.
The driver and Franklin were taken by helicopter to hospitals in Columbus and LaGrange.
The Alabama sheriff’s office described it as a “horrific scene.”
There were no additional details yet Monday morning on the full sequence of events resulting in the shootout. It’s unclear if there was any verbal contact between Cauthen and the driver with Franklin before Franklin allegedly began firing.
Cauthen was with Coweta County Fire Rescue for over 24 years and was described as an “amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul,” according to a Facebook post from the department.
Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic passing of Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen.
Cauthen…
Posted by Coweta County Fire Rescue on Monday, January 20, 2025
The Coweta County Fire Rescue service said early Monday that more information, as well as plans for services for Battalion Chief Cauthen, would be released later.
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