'We Lost A Hero': GA Deputy Ambushed, Shot To Death Responding To Domestic Violence Call

HIRAM, GA — New details released Monday depicted how a Paulding County deputy was gunned down Saturday while responding to a domestic dispute.

The fatal shooting, which killed Deputy Brandon Cunningham, happened at a Foggy Creek Lane home. It was the first line-of-duty death for the department, authorities said.

Paulding County Maj. Ashley Henson said at a news conference that Cunningham was shot with a rifle within 8 seconds of getting out of his patrol car at the scene. His partner was not injured in the shooting, Henson said.

"What happened to Brandon that day was purely evil," Henson said. "... The shooter had every advantage in the world."

The Paulding County Sheriff's Office said Cunningham, 30, was fatally shot by James Samuel Atkins, 42, who was accused of also shooting his wife. Henson said Atkins was a convicted felon, and deputies had been called to the home in the past.

Cunningham was the father of two children and was about to get married, authorities said.

Atkins shot a rifle with a scope about 16 times from "an elevated position," said Joe Montgomery, special agent in charge with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Due to Atkins' positioning, Montgomery said none of the deputies could "get a shot off."

"That's how he was able to murder deputy Cunningham in a short period of time," Montgomery said.

The sheriff's office said Cunningham is the first deputy to be killed in the line of duty since the office first opened in 1834.

"This is a day I hoped never happened, but it did," Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge said at the news conference.

What Happened?

Authorities responded around 6:15 p.m. to the home in the Harmony Creek subdivision, where they said Cunningham and his partner were ambushed by the suspect, Atkins.

Cunningham was shot as he got out of his patrol car, "never even seeing the threat before being executed," authorities said.

Shots continued to ring out from the home, hindering Cunningham's partner from being able to render aid, authorities said.

Additional deputies arrived on the scene and were also prevented from getting to Cunningham due to the "hail of gunfire that was being rained down upon them," authorities said.

Soon after Cunningham was shot, authorities said the suspect's wife tried to leave the house. Atkins shot her and left her in a car, authorities said.

The woman was taken to an Atlanta area hospital and was in stable but serious condition, authorities said. Henson said Monday the woman remained in the hospital.

Deputies with an armored vehicle were then able to get Cunningham away from the scene and into an ambulance, authorities said. However, authorities said Cunningham died Saturday evening at the hospital.

“We lost a hero last night," Gulledge said in a news release. "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. ... Please pray for us as we navigate uncharted waters.”

Multiple SWAT teams in metro Atlanta responded to the scene and were able to eventually enter the home using armored vehicles, robots and drones, authorities said.

SWAT then discovered Atkins seemingly took his own life by a gunshot, authorities said.

Atkins' brother, Ernie Atkins, told Fox 5 Atlanta his brother "battled demons.'"

"He has fought demons his entire life," Ernie Atkins told FOX 5. "I just want to say I'm sorry to the officer’s family, that they're having to go through what they are going through. I understand that he had a wife and kids, and we're praying for his family, and we're devastated by this loss. And this is horrible for everyone."

The GBI is overseeing the probe in the case.

'They Were Met with Evil'

Henson said Cunningham and his partner followed their training; however, "when they got there, they were met with evil."

"He never had a shot," Henson said. "He never had an opportunity to do anything."

Gulledge said Cunningham was a hard worker with a contagious smile. Cunningham enjoyed Atlanta Braves games and was a "sneaker head," Gulledge said. He was a person with the "warmest heart," Gulledge said.

Paulding County Chief Deputy Chad Hunton, who stood teary-eyed at the news conference, said he spent most of Monday with Cunningham's family. He asked the public to pray for the family.

After news broke of Cunningham's death, condolence posts began pouring in on social media.

"Chief Darin Schierbaum and the Atlanta Police Department extend our heartfelt condolences to the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and all impacted by the tragic line of duty death of Deputy Brandon Cunningham. Your service will never be forgotten," Atlanta Police said.

A funeral for Cunningham will be held Friday at West Ridge Church in Dallas, and Cunningham is set to be buried at Kennesaw Memorial Park in Marietta, Henson said. Times are unknown.

Anyone interested in donating money to Cunningham's family can do so via Paulding Public Safety Appreciation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, authorities said. The organization is led by PPSA President Jaid Ison, (706) 622-7011, authorities said.