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CHAMBERS COUNTY, Ala. (BFMG) — An Alabama man shot and killed a Georgia fire chief Sunday afternoon after the firefighter approached his home seeking help.
James Bartholomew Cauthen, 54, a battalion chief with Coweta County Fire Rescue, stopped to assist a couple who had hit a deer on County Road 267, according to officials.
Unable to get cell service, Cauthen and the driver of the vehicle that struck the deer walked to the home of 33-year-old William Randall Franklin to ask for assistance. Without warning, Franklin opened fire, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office said.
The driver, who was armed, returned fire and struck Franklin, according to WRBL.
Deputies responding to the scene found Cauthen dead and both Franklin and the driver injured. Franklin and the driver were airlifted to Georgia hospitals, where they are expected to recover. The driver’s wife remained in the car while her husband and Cauthen sought help.
Cauthen had served with Coweta County Fire Rescue for 24 years.
“James was a dedicated public servant, a leader in our department, and a beloved member of our community,” the department said in a statement.
Chambers County is located on the Alabama-Georgia state line, just north of Columbus, Ga.
The sheriff’s office confirmed Franklin will face a murder charge once he is released from the hospital.
No further details were immediately available as the investigation continues.
