3 sources·World

Fire Chief Fatally Shot While Assisting Accident Victims

A fire battalion chief was shot and killed while helping a couple after their car hit a deer in Alabama.

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  1. Georgia Fire Chief Shot And Killed In Alabama After Stopping To Help Driver Who Hit Deer

    The tragic shooting of James Bartholomew Cauthen underscores the senseless violence that can erupt in even the most routine situations, leaving a community grappling with loss and unanswered questions.

    Georgia Fire Chief Shot And Killed In Alabama After Stopping To Help Driver Who Hit Deer

    HuffPostHuffPost·3M
    Mostly Reliable
    This source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.
    ·
    Leans Left
    This outlet slightly leans left.
  2. Fire chief fatally shot while helping a couple whose car struck a deer in Alabama

    The tragic shooting of James Bartholomew Cauthen, a dedicated fire battalion chief, underscores the deep risks emergency responders face even in seemingly ordinary circumstances.

    Fire chief fatally shot while helping a couple whose car struck a deer in Alabama

    Associated PressAssociated Press·3M
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  3. A Georgia fire chief stopped to help a driver who hit a deer. He was then shot and killed.

    The tragic shooting of a dedicated fire chief while he tried to assist others illustrates a senseless loss that weighs heavily on the community and highlights the unpredictable dangers that can arise in everyday situations.

    A Georgia fire chief stopped to help a driver who hit a deer. He was then shot and killed.

    USA TODAYUSA TODAY·3M
    Reliable
    This source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.
    ·
    Center
    This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
  1. HuffPost
  2. Associated Press
  3. USA TODAY
Updated: Jan 21st, 2025, 4:05 PM ET

Summary

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

James Bartholomew Cauthen, a 54-year-old battalion chief with Coweta County Fire, was fatally shot while aiding a couple involved in a car accident in Alabama. Local resident William Randall Franklin opened fire on Cauthen and the driver when they approached his property seeking help. The driver, who returned fire, was also wounded, but his wife remained unharmed. Franklin will be arrested on murder charges once discharged from the hospital. The incident has left both the firefighting community and local authorities in shock and mourning.

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Fire Chief Fatally Shot While Assisting Accident Victims - Pano News