TUSKEGEE − State and defense attorneys made their final appeals to the jury Wednesday in the killing of Lowndes County Sheriff “Big John” Williams, with the case expected to be given over to the jury Thursday morning.
William “Will” Chase Johnson, 22, of Montgomery, is charged with capital murder in the Nov. 23, 2019, shooting death of the popular Lowndes County sheriff. Williams was dispersing a crowd that night at the QV convenience store in downtown Hayneville.
“Big John took his last breath doing his job as sheriff,” District Attorney Charlotte Tesmer told the jury. Williams had served more than 40 years in law enforcement. “He found a crowd. He found loud music. He felt he had to handle the situation as he had done his whole life.
“That man,” she said indicating Johnson at the defense table, “Pulled his gun and shot Big John.”
That Johnson shot Williams is not in doubt. The state says Johnson was angry and shot Williams, knowing he was the sheriff. The defense says that Johnson didn’t know Williams was the sheriff and that he shot him after Williams allegedly shoved Johnson by the into the cab of his pickup truck and pointed his gun at Johnson.