Trial of gunman who killed Sheriff continues in Macon County today

October 17, 2024 – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) will be in the courtroom today in Tuskegee for the murder trial of the man who gunned down Lowndes County Sheriff 'Big John' Williams.

William Chase Johnson pulled a 9 mm handgun and fired the shot that killed Sheriff Williams on November 23, 2019. That is not disputed by the defense. The defense claims however that Sheriff Williams did not identify himself as a law enforcement officer.

Johnson – now age 22 – claims that he did not know that Williams was the Sheriff.

Prosecutors charge that Williams approached Johnson and a crowd of young people and told them to turn down the volume of their music and leave the parking lot of a Hayneville convenience store. Johnson then gunned the sheriff down for no good reason.

Johnson fled the scene following the slaying; but turned himself in a few hours later as a statewide manhunt was already under way. Johnson's defense is claiming that the teen shot the sheriff after he was threatened and are claiming that the slaying was in self-defense. Johnson's defense counsel claims that Williams had drawn his weapon and has threatened a friend of Johnson's.

The groups of young people were in Lowndes County to attend a bonfire party; but the gate to the property was locked when they arrived so they gathered at the convenience store while waiting for someone to come and unlock the gate.

The Alabama Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.

The trial was moved from Lowndes County because of concerns that Johnson could not get a fair trial there. Johnson faces capital murder charges and the attorney general's office is seeking the death penalty if Johnson is convicted,

Sheriff Williams served the people of Alabama for 40 years in law enforcement until he was gunned down by Johnson.

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