A deputy from Georgia met his demise during an intervention in a domestic disagreement, signifying the initial on-duty fatality for the sheriff's department.
In a residence beyond Hiram city limits, a home became the scene of a tragic incident. Deputy Brandon Cunningham, aged 30, serving with Paulding County sheriff's department, was fatally shot. Authorities reported a male suspect as the potential shooter, discovered deceased with what seemed like a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Concurrently, a female victim was discovered, critically injured from gunshot wounds.
At the press conference, Sheriff Gary Gulledge conveyed his emotions by stating, "Tonight, we've lost a hero." He pleaded for prayers for both the bereaved family and their law enforcement kin. The entire department was visibly devastated by the loss.
The domestic disturbance incident triggered Deputy Cunningham and his partner's arrival at the property around 6:15 PM. Inside the house, gunfire erupted, with Cunningham suffering fatal injuries, Maj. Ashley Henson confirmed during the press conference.
Upon arrival, other deputies were met with more gunfire, yet no other officers were reported wounded, Henson revealed.
"Unfortunately, it appears as if our deputies were ambushed," Henson declared, without clarifying whether deputies retaliated.
The male suspect's name remained undisclosed until further notice, following his demise from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Henson said.
"We don't know at what point he took his own life, but we know that our deputies were in the middle of a hail of gunfire," Henson explained.
The female, believed to be connected to the domestic dispute, returned to the property post-deputies' arrival. She sustained gunshot wounds and was hospitalized, according to Henson. He described her condition as stable. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will delve into the case, Henson announced.
Deputy Cunningham, a recent addition to the sheriff's office since 2020, leaves behind two children, Henson revealed. The sheriff's office had never experienced a deputy's line-of-duty fatality prior to this, Henson said, expressing his deep sorrow.
Details of the precipitating domestic dispute were not immediately disclosed by authorities.
From 2021 to 2023, an FBI report highlighted that 194 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty, making it the deadliest consecutive three-year period in the last two decades. Among all regions, the South reported the highest number of line-of-duty deaths during this period, the report noted.
Hiram, located approximately 25 miles northwest of Atlanta, was the stage for this heartbreaking incident.
The sheriff's department is rallying support from the community for Deputy Cunningham's family, as they are deeply affected by this tragedy. Us, as a community, need to come together and honor his service and sacrifice.
At the funeral service, several testimonies were shared about Deputy Cunningham's dedication and commitment to his duty, highlighting how he always put 'us', the community, first.
