William Schwarz was 47 when he died in Beulah, Alabama, on October 23, 2020. Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department were called to a home in the 8000 block of U.S. Highway 29 North around 8:30 p.m. after reports of gunfire; emergency responders found Schwarz suffering gunshot wounds and other injuries and Lee County Coroner Bill Harris pronounced him dead at the scene. His body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for postmortem examination.

Authorities said Schwarz left the home, later returned armed and fired at people inside, and gunfire was exchanged; investigators believed Schwarz was shot during that exchange. In the days after the shooting officials described the case as under investigation and appealed for information, and available reports do not show any arrest, named suspect, or filed charge related to the death.

Did anyone who attended that gathering or who was in the area that night come forward with information?