William Chenoweth, Sr. Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified a father and son found dead inside a home in Shelby County following a tense standoff with law enforcement on Tuesday morning. The incident, which took place in The Narrows area near Chelsea, began around 8 a.m. when deputies arrived to serve a mental health pickup order on 74-year-old William Chenoweth Sr. at a residence on Narrows Drive off Highway 280.
Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego reported that deputies repeatedly knocked and announced their presence but received no response. After failed attempts to make contact, the entry team breached the door and simultaneously broke a window to create a distraction. At that moment, Chenoweth’s son, 48-year-old William Chenoweth Jr., began firing at deputies from inside the home. Law enforcement returned fire, visibly striking him, according to Samaniego.
The situation escalated as a SWAT team and negotiators were called to the scene. Authorities issued a community alert, instructing neighbors to shelter in place, and nearby roads were blocked off. Despite extensive efforts to negotiate, Chenoweth Jr. did not respond.
Drones were deployed to clear and monitor the home. Chenoweth Jr. was initially spotted sitting unresponsive in a recliner in the living room. Law enforcement gave him several hours to respond, but there was no movement or communication. Around 11:30 a.m., deputies launched multiple gas canisters into the home, hoping to force the men outside, but neither emerged.
Further drone surveillance revealed Chenoweth Jr. lying on a bed, still unresponsive. His father, the subject of the mental pickup order, had not yet been located. A flashbang device was deployed in the bedroom where Chenoweth Jr. was seen, but he remained unresponsive. Concerned for the situation’s safety and urgency, the entry team re-entered the home.
Inside, deputies discovered Chenoweth Jr. deceased. His father’s body was found in a bathtub, where authorities believe he had been for several months. Sheriff Samaniego indicated that there were no signs of foul play in William Chenoweth Sr.’s death.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is now reviewing the exchange of gunfire between Chenoweth Jr. and deputies. Additionally, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will conduct its own investigation into the incident.
Sheriff Samaniego revealed that the situation had been developing for two months as law enforcement attempted to serve both the mental pickup order and an eviction order, which had been described as “volatile.” The sheriff acknowledged the complexity and dangers of the situation, emphasizing the importance of resolving it safely for the community.
Multiple agencies, including the Alabaster and Pelham police departments and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, assisted at the scene. Authorities continue their investigation into the incident as the community grapples with the tragic outcome.