UPDATE: Trial of man accused of killing Lowndes County Sheriff moved to Macon County
William Chase Johnson
A judge has moved the capital murder trial of the man charged with killing Lowndes County Sheriff “Big John” Williams to Macon County.
Circuit Judge Bert Rice announced the decision after granting a defense request to move the trial against William Chase Johnson out of Lowndes County.
Johnson, 21, of Montgomery, faces a capital murder charge for the 2019 shooting death of the sheriff. Williams was killed at the QV gas station across the street from the courthouse in Hayneville. Witnesses say Williams was telling Johnson to turn down his radio when he was fatally shot.
Johnson’s lawyers argued in a January motion that he could not receive a fair trial in the county where the case has been heavily covered in local media and where the courthouse was renamed for the slain sheriff. Defense lawyers said prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty.
“Big John” Williams / Source: Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office
Sometimes known as “Big John” for his towering frame, the 62-year-old sheriff was well-known throughout the county. He spent more than 40 years serving the community. He started out as a reserve deputy in 1978 before moving to the Hayneville Police Department. Then he returned to the sheriff’s office and worked his way up to chief deputy before being elected sheriff in 2010.
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
