Sunday, August 18, 2024–6:17 p.m.

-Paulding County Sheriff’s Office-

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their own.

According to a new release from the sheriff’s office:

At around 6:13 p.m. Saturday, Deputy Brandon Cunningham was gunned down as he responded to a domestic dispute.

A male suspect ambushed Deputy Cunningham and his partner as they responded to a domestic dispute at 30 Foggy Creek Lane in Hiram, which is in the Harmony Creek subdivision.

Cunningham was shot as he exited his patrol vehicle, never even seeing the threat before being executed.

Shots continued to come from inside the residence, preventing his partner from being able to render aid.

As additional Deputies arrived on the scene, they too were unable to reach Deputy Cunningham due to the hail of gunfire that was being rained down upon them.

Initial reports implied that a female victim was shot and left in a vehicle.

The victim is identified as 52-year-old Kim Thao Vu, the the wife of the suspect.

Vu was attempting to leave the house immediately after Cunningham was shot.

She, too, was shot by the suspect.

She was taken to an Atlanta area hospital in stable but serious condition.

Deputies brought the Sheriff’s Office armored vehicle, enabling them to get Deputy Cunningham away from the scene and into a waiting ambulance.

Deputy Cunningham was pronounced deceased later in the evening at the hospital.

Throughout the evening, multiple metro area S.W.A.T. teams arrived on the scene to assist in capturing the suspect.

Eventually, S.W.A.T. teams were able to make entry into the residence utilizing Bearcat armored vehicles, robots, and drones.

When they did, it was discovered that the suspect, identified as 42-year-old James Samuel Atkins was dead.

He appeared to have taken his own life with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The GBI is taking over the investigation.

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office was established in 1834. From the history that we have been able to uncover, Deputy Cunningham is the first Deputy in the history of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office to lose their life in the line of duty.

Sheriff Gary Gulledge stated, “We lost a hero last night. Brandon was a great Deputy and a hard worker. 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.”

If anyone would like to donate monetarily to Deputy Cunningham’s family, it can be done through Paulding Public Safety Appreciation, Inc. (PPSA). PPSA is a 501(c)3 non-profit; all donations are tax-deductible. The point of contact for PPSA is PPSA President Jarid Ison. He can be reached at [email protected] or (706) 622- 7011.