Murder of Lowndes County Sheriff trial ends in mistrial

October 29, 2024 – Tuskegee - a Macon County jury informed the judge that it was deadlocked in the capital murder trial of William Chase Johnson. Johnson is accused of shooting to death Lowndes County Sheriff "Big John" John Williams.

Sheriff Williams told a group of rowdy teens at a convenience store and turn their music down. Johnson got out of his truck, got into an altercation with the Sheriff, pulled out a handgun, shot and killed the sheriff, and fled in a friend's car.

Those facts are not in dispute.

That's where the agreement ends.

Multiple witnesses said that Williams, who was not in uniform, identified himself as the Sheriff. Johnson and some of his friends denied that Williams identified himself. Johnson testified that he got out of his truck to confront Williams who was threatening one of his friends. Johnson claimed that he was being choked by the sheriff outside of his truck when he reached for the gun under the seat, which he used to gun down Sheriff Williams. Other witnesses dispute Johnson's account of the events leading to the slaying of the career law enforcement officer.

The jury could have come back with a manslaughter conviction; but were divided even on that lower charge between those jurors who believe that Johnson was guilty of murder and those who believed the defense's claim that the killing was an act of self-defense.

Prosecutors have said that they intend to retrial Johnson.

The trial was moved to Macon, from Lowndes County, because the judge believed that Johnson could not get a fair trial there.

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