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He will be remembered as a consummate professional and pillar of his community. I offer my prayers and deepest sympathies to his family and to the men and women of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. (2/2) #alpolitics

— Governor Kay Ivey (@GovernorKayIvey) November 24, 2019

The suspect, named as William Chase Johnson, 18, immediately fled the scene of the crime on foot and the state of Alabama issued an emergency BLUE alert to apprehend the suspect.

\"PHOTO:
Alabama Sheriffs Association
PHOTO: Lowndes County Sheriff "Big John" Williams.
>

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency canceled the alert 4 hours later after arresting the suspect. The Montgomery Advertiser says that Williams walked up to the crime scene shortly after midnight while holding a firearm and was taken into custody though these details have not yet been confirmed by the authorities.

Williams was born and raised in Lowndes County and graduated from Calhoun High School in 1976.

In 1978, he started volunteering as a reserve deputy, and for three years in the 1980s he was in the Hayneville Police Department until full-time work with the sheriff’s office.

In 1990, he was appointed to chief deputy and served in this capacity until leaving the department in 2009.

\"PHOTO:
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
PHOTO: William Chase Johnson in an undated photo.
>

In 2010, he ran for sheriff and winning the position and has held onto the role since.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office website paid tribute to him saying he \"always wanted to make a difference in his community and felt there was no better way to help his community than to protect and serve them in law enforcement.\"

\"PHOTO:
Monroe County Sheriffs Office
PHOTO: William Chase Johnson is arrested by police, Nov. 24, 2019.
>

\"He wasn't just another sheriff, he was a friend. John was a caring person. He loved Lowndes County, \" said Cunningham to ABC News' Montgomery, Alabama, affiliate, WNCF.

\"He knew everybody. Anytime you lose a law enforcement officer that's a major hit. Here we lost a sheriff,\" Cunningham said and also remarked that Williams' family was \"holding up good\" and that \"we love them just as much as he loved them.\"

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