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By Sophie Clark
Live News Reporter
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A fire chief was shot dead after trying to get help for a couple who had hit a deer in Alabama.
According to officials in Chambers County, Chief James Bartholomew "Bart" Cauthen, 54, went to the home of 33-year-old William Randall Franklin for help. Franklin then allegedly opened fire unprovoked.
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Why It Matters
This bizarre shooting is under investigation, and does not appear to have a clear motive.
Gun death rates in Alabama are higher than the national average. According to data compiled by Everytown for Gun Safety, while the national average for gun deaths is 13.7 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, Alabama's is 25.6. Alabama also does not require background checks in order for someone to purchase a gun.
What To Know
According to WRBL, which spoke with local investigators, Cauthen owned or maintained a property near where the crash happened. He had limited cell service to get them help, which is why he knocked on a neighbor's door. Little did he know that neighbor would allegedly pull out a gun.
According to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office, both Cauthen and the car driver were shot when Franklin allegedly opened fire.
Per investigators, the car driver was also carrying a gun—Alabama allows for concealed carry—and he pulled out his weapon to start shooting at Franklin.
Cauthen died from his injuries at the scene. The driver and Franklin were also injured as a result of the shootout, but are expected to survive. The other passenger in the car was uninjured.
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office has been contacted via email for further comment.
Gun ownership in America is likely to get much easier under the Trump Administration. The most recent Republican Study Committee (RSC) budget calls for the removal of "red flag" laws that allow police to seize guns temporarily from people deemed to be a risk to themselves or others.
The RSC budget also wants the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to destroy all records of firearm transactions from gun stores, and wants the Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) to destroy all records of firearm transactions if they go out of business.
Trump also promised the National Rifle Association that he will remove Biden-era gun violence prevention laws. So far he has removed the Office of Gun Violence Prevention from the White House website.
What People Are Saying
Coweta County Fire Rescue: "Coweta County Fire Rescue continues to be devastated by the tragic 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."
Barry Stephens, a former co-worker posted to Facebook: "I worked with Bart for many years at Coweta County Fire, I can assure you he was one of the best men I've ever known in my lifetime."
What Happens Next
Franklin will face murder charges after he is released from hospital where he is recovering from his gunshot wounds.
Coweta County Fire Rescue said it has no further details on the shooting at this time, and no funeral arrangements have been made yet.
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