A tragic incident unfolded in Chambers County, Alabama, where a fire chief from Georgia lost his life while assisting a driver involved in a deer collision. James "Bart" Cauthen, a Battalion Chief with Coweta County Fire Rescue in Georgia, was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon while trying to help those involved in the accident.

According to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, Cauthen was attempting to assist individuals who had struck a deer on County Road 267. A local resident, William Randall Franklin, then opened fire on Chief Cauthen and the driver involved in the deer collision. All individuals involved were injured in the ensuing exchange of gunfire, but Cauthen tragically succumbed to his injuries before deputies arrived at the scene.

An arrest warrant for murder has been issued for Franklin, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a local facility and will be taken into custody upon his release. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigators are actively working to reconstruct the events leading up to the tragic incident.

Coweta County Fire Rescue, where Cauthen served for over 24 years, expressed their profound grief and shock in a Facebook post. They described Cauthen as an "amazing, hard-working man with a gentle soul" and offered condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. The department is grappling with many questions as they navigate this devastating loss.

The Chambers County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into this tragic event.