HIRAM, Ga. — In a tragic incident, a deputy from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office was shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute in Hiram, Georgia. The situation escalated into an ambush that resulted in the suspect taking his own life.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, two deputies arrived at the scene to find themselves under fire from a residence within the subdivision, as confirmed by Major Ashley Henson of the sheriff’s office during a press briefing.
The male suspect fired extensively at the responding officers, resulting in one officer being shot, according to Henson.
Deputy Brandon Cunningham, aged 30, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital, as confirmed by Sheriff Gary Gulledge.
“We’ve lost a hero tonight,” Gulledge stated, emphasizing the difficulty this loss brings to the sheriff’s office and the broader community.
The unidentified suspect was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Henson noted.
A woman involved in the domestic dispute had initially left the residence but returned while police were present. She has been hospitalized in stable condition after sustaining injuries from gunfire, according to Henson.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the incident. It remains unclear whether any officers returned fire in the community located approximately 27 miles northwest of Atlanta.
“It appears our deputies were ambushed,” Henson remarked, describing the incident as a “tremendously tragic situation.” He highlighted that this was the first time the sheriff’s office had experienced the loss of an officer in the line of duty.
“Our hearts are broken,” Henson expressed. “There is already heartache and tears within our community as we grapple with this loss.”
