An Alabama man shot a Georgia fire chief to death on Sunday for approaching his home.

James Bartholomew Cauthen, 54, had stopped to help a couple who had struck a deer on County Road 267 in Chambers County Sunday afternoon.

Cauthen and the driver of the vehicle that struck the deer were unable to get cell coverage to call for further help, so they approached the home of William Randall Franklin, 33, to ask for his assistance. Without warning, Franklin opened fire.

The driver, who was armed, returned fire and struck Franklin, WRBL reported.

When deputies arrived, they found Cauthen dead and the other two men wounded. They were life-flighted to hospitals in Georgia and are expected to survive. The driver’s wife remained in the car while her husband and Cauthen went for help that wasn’t forthcoming.

Cauthen was a battalion chief at Coweta County Fire Rescue in Georgia, where he had served for 24 years, the department said.

Chambers County is directly on the Georgia stateline north of Columbus. Coweta County is a few miles from the state line.

The Chambers County Sheriff’s Office said Franklin will be charged with murder when he is released from the hospital.

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[Featured image James Bartholomew Cauthen/Coweta County Fire Rescue]