Sheriff John “Big John” Williams, Sr.

November 23, 2019

Sheriff John Williams was shot and killed at 8:00 pm while responding to a trespassing and noise complaint call at a convenience store at the intersection of Highways 21 and 97 in Hayneville. He had responded to the store after a store employee had called to report a large gathering of people in the parking lot who refused to leave. Sheriff Williams arrived at the scene and was speaking with an occupant of a truck when a male shot him. The male fled in the truck but later returned to the scene and turned himself in. The truck was later determined to have been stolen. Sheriff Williams was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served in law enforcement for over 40 years. He is survived by his wife and children.