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Background: The scene of the shootout where Bart Cauthen died (WBRL). Inset (top): Coweta County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Bart Cauthen (Coweta County Fire Rescue on Facebook). Inset (bottom): William Randall Franklin (Muscogee County Jail).
A Georgia fire chief who was reportedly trying to help a couple who hit a deer with their car in Alabama died after being involved in an alleged shootout with a local man.
James Bartholomew “Bart” Cauthen, 54, was the Battalion Chief of Coweta County Fire Rescue in Georgia, and he was one of three gunshot victims after an incident involving the driver of a car that hit a deer in Alabama’s Chambers County and the man who allegedly fired the fatal shot, William Randall Franklin, 33.
According to the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department in an update posted on Facebook, Franklin allegedly “opened fire” on Cauthen and the couple at about 5 p.m. on Jan. 19. They said their investigation indicated that the couple hit a deer with their vehicle and pulled over to the side of County Road 267. Cauthen, who owned property in the area and was driving back to his Georgia home, reportedly noticed the car and pulled over himself to assist the driver and his wife. WBRL, a local CBS affiliate, reported that poor cellphone service in the remote area made it impossible to call for additional assistance, so the driver and Cauthen approached a nearby home to find help.
Chambers County police then stated that Franklin, who lived in that home, saw Cauthen and the driver approaching his property and allegedly opened fire without warning. The car’s driver also reportedly had a firearm and a shootout ensued. The fire chief was allegedly hit with a fatal shot and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The unnamed driver and Franklin were also wounded and taken to separate trauma centers for treatment. Both were expected to survive their injuries. The driver’s wife, who had stayed in the car, was not injured.
Cauthen’s station paid tribute to its fallen leader on Facebook.
“He was an amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul,” the post says. “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.”
Franklin was described by neighbors as a “paranoid schizophrenic,” according to WBRL, though the outlet noted that diagnosis was not confirmed by police. He was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional hospital in Columbus, Georgia, right across the border from Alabama. He was treated, released, and arrested on Jan. 20, and later booked into the Muscogee County Jail. He is expected to be extradited to Chambers County, Alabama and charged with murder.
Law&Crime attempted to confirm with the Chambers County Jail if Franklin had been extradited yet but did not get an immediate response.