Brandon Cunningham Obituary, Death – A deputy sheriff in Georgia was fatally shot while responding to a reported domestic disturbance, which authorities described as an ambush orchestrated by a suspect who subsequently took his own life. Two deputies arrived at the scene shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday and were immediately met with gunfire from a residence in a subdivision in Hiram, Georgia, as stated by Major Ashley Henson of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office during a press conference.
The male suspect unleashed a barrage of gunfire directed at other officers, although only one deputy was struck, according to Henson. Deputy Brandon Cunningham, aged 30, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital due to a gunshot wound, as confirmed by Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge during the briefing.
“Tonight, we have lost a hero,” Gulledge remarked, emphasizing the challenging times ahead for the department and its personnel. The suspect, whose identity has not yet been disclosed, reportedly died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Henson indicated.
A woman involved in the domestic dispute had initially left the scene but returned while law enforcement was present. She sustained injuries from gunfire and was transported to a hospital in the Atlanta area, where she is currently in stable condition, Henson reported.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will take charge of the inquiry, with Henson noting that it remains unclear whether any officers returned fire in the community located approximately 27 miles (43 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.
“Regrettably, it seems our deputies were ambushed,” Henson stated. He characterized the incident as a “tremendously tragic situation,” highlighting that the sheriff’s office had never experienced the loss of an officer in the line of duty prior to this event.
“Our hearts are shattered,” Henson expressed. “While we appear to be holding it together, there is already profound heartache and tears.”
