Coweta battalion fire chief killed after stopping to help stranger in Alabama

CHAMBERS COUNTY, Ala. - Firefighters in Coweta County are mourning the loss of one of their battalion chiefs after police say he was shot and killed while trying to help a stranger in Alabama.

 The deadly shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Sunday on County Road 267 in Chambers County, officials said.

What we know:

 According to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, 54-year-old James Bartholomew Cauthen had stopped on the road to help a driver who had hit a deer.

While the battalion fire chief was helping with the crash, investigators say a different man, identified as William Randall Franklin, opened fire on Cauthen and the other driver.

The situation escalated into a shootout, and officials say Cauthen, the unidentified driver, and Franklin were all injured.

Cauthen died before deputies were able to get to the scene. Franklin and the other driver were airlifted to LaGrange and Columbus trauma centers. 

Officials say they have issued a warrant for Franklin charging him with murder and will arrest him after he is released from Piedmont Medical Center.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not shared details about what caused the deadly violence to begin.

What they're saying:

Coweta Fire Rescue officials wrote that they were "devastated" to learn of Cauthen's death.

"We lost one of our brothers, leaders, mentor, and family to a senseless tragedy," the department wrote on Facebook. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Cauthen family as they go through this difficult time." 

They released an additional statement Monday morning:

Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the sudden 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.

 We want to thank all of the agencies who have reached out to us to offer condolences, as well as our community. Coweta County is always there to support our agency, we will get through this together.

 At this time, we do not have further details outside of what was released from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office nor have funeral arrangements been made. We will share updates as they become available.