PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A Paulding County deputy is dead after being shot on Saturday evening while responding to a domestic dispute on Foggy Creek Lane within the Harmony Creek subdivision.
The deputy was identified as 30-year-old Brandon Cunningham. The sheriff's office said this was the first time a deputy had ever been killed in the line of duty in Paulding County since it was established in 1834.
While much of Deputy Cunningham's life and legacy is currently unknown, we do know that he leaves behind two children. Family told 11Alive that his kids are 8 and 12. According to his employment history, he started with the sheriff's office as a jailer in 2020 before transferring to be a sheriff's deputy in April 2022.
His brother, Kevin Cunningham, said that the family is in mourning, and they appreciate the community support they have been receiving.
"Our only request is that the community continues to remember the name Brandon Tyler Cunningham as the hero who died doing what he loved, protecting and helping his community," he said in a statement to 11Alive. "We simply ask that the community keep his family in their prayers, especially his two children."
The shooting happened when Deputy Cunningham was responding to a domestic dispute around 6:13 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities said that he was shot as he exited his patrol vehicle. The sheriff's office said that shots continued to come from inside the residence -- preventing Cunningham's partner from being able to help. As additional deputies arrived, they were also unable to reach Deputy Cunningham at the time due to the "hail of gunfire that was being rained down upon them."
The sheriff's office said that the wife of the suspect was attempting to leave the house immediately after Cunningham was shot. Authorities stated that she was also shot by the suspect, who was since identified as 42-year-old James Samuel Atkins. She was taken to a hospital in stable but serious condition, according to a release.
Throughout the evening, multiple metro area S.W.A.T. teams arrived to help capture the suspect. Eventually, the sheriff's office said that S.W.A.T. teams were able to make entry into the residence using Bearcat Vehicles, robots and drones. When they got access inside the house, that's when they found Atkins dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputies were able to bring the sheriff's office armored vehicle, which enabled them to get Deputy Cunningham away from the scene and into a waiting ambulance. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died from his injuries, the sheriff's office said.
Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge said that Deputy Cunningham was a hard worker who was great at his job.
"We lost a hero last night," Sheriff Gulledge stated in a release on Sunday. "My heart breaks for his family, friends, and our staff. This senseless act of violence will never be understood. Brandon was 30 years old and leaves behind two children. Please pray for us as we navigate uncharted waters."
According to a release, there will be a memorial patrol vehicle in front of the sheriff's office for those who would like to leave flowers and condolences to the sheriff's office and the Cunningham family.
Anyone who would like to donate to Deputy Cunningham's family can do so through Paulding Public Safety Appreciation, Inc. (PPSA). The point of contact is PPSA President Jaid Ison. He can be reached at info@pauldingpsa.org or 706-622-7011. A donation link can be found here.