Mistrial declared in William Chase Johnson case
A mistrial was declared this morning in the capital murder trial of William Chase Johnson, the man charged with killing Lowndes County Sheriff “Big John” Williams in 2019.
The jury said it could not reach a verdict, so Judge Bert Rice declared the mistrial. The case was moved from Lowndes County to Macon County after it was decided Johnson could not get a fair trial in Lowndes County, where the courthouse was renamed in Sheriff Williams’ memory after his death.
On November 23, 2019, the sheriff was shot outside of a gas station in Hayneville near the courthouse when he arrived to disperse a crowd and to tell Johnson to turn down his radio. The sheriff was shot in the face.
At trial, it wasn’t argued that Johnson killed the sheriff. Johnson’s lawyers said that Johnson acted in self defense and did not know that Williams, who was not in uniform, was the sheriff. Johnson was 18 at the time of the shooting.
Johnson took the stand during the trial. He testified that he did not know that Williams was a law enforcement officer. Johnson said he got out of his truck when he saw Williams yelling at his friend. He testified that Williams grabbed him by the throat and pointed a gun at him.
Prosecutors said Johnson was the aggressor and shot the sheriff out of anger. They said the evidence did not match his claim that he was acting in self defense.
“All he had to do was get back in his car and we would not be here,” Assistant Attorney General Kenny Gibbs told jurors in closing arguments.
“If John Williams identified himself, Will would not have been afraid for his life,” defense attorney Terry Luck told jurors in closing arguments, according to the station.
Sheriff Williams was 62 when he was killed. 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.
“Big John” Williams / Source: Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office
Officials say it will be at least a year before Johnson is tried again for the case. He will remain in custody until then.
(Copyright 2024 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
