An Alabama police officer shot and killed a Georgia fire chief who had stopped to assist a driver who struck a deer.
Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen of Coweta County Fire Rescue has been serving in Georgia for over 24 years.
In Alabama, a fire chief was fatally shot and killed while attempting to aid a motorist who had struck a deer, according to police reports.
Battalion Chief James "Bart" Cauthen, a dedicated and compassionate employee of the Coweta County Fire Rescue in Georgia, has tragically passed away after being shot on Sunday afternoon.
"According to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, early investigation reveals that Chief Cauthen was trying to help individuals who had hit a deer on County Road 267. However, another resident in the area, William Randall Franklin, opened fire on Chief Cauthen and the individual who struck the deer."
During the shootout, all individuals were injured. However, Chief Cauthen passed away before deputies arrived on the scene, according to the Sheriff's Office.
An arrest warrant for murder has been issued for Franklin, who will be taken into custody upon his release from a local medical facility, according to police.
The motive for the shooting is unclear.
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office stated that investigators are currently working to gather information about the events that led to the horrific scene.
James Bartholomew Cauthen, 54 years old from Moreland, Georgia, was identified as the deceased victim.
We are facing a difficult situation and have many uncertainties, as stated by Coweta County Fire Rescue in a Facebook post.
"We express our sympathy to Cauthen's family, friends, and fellow firefighters who worked with him. We appreciate the condolences from all the agencies that have contacted us, as well as our community."
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Tuesday when contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital.
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