The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office remains in mourning today following the tragic loss of one of their deputies during a shootout with a man who later took his own life before law enforcement could intervene.
Sheriff Gary Gulledge gathered with officials and press on Monday afternoon outside of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office to provide further details about what happened, plans for the coming days and details on how the public can help during this time of grieving.
Major Ashley Henson – who acts as the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer – opened the press conference on Monday afternoon with a moment of silence to honor Deputy Cunningham after his loss in the line of duty on Saturday evening.
“On Saturday, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office changed forever,” Henson said. He continued to describe the situation and reminded those in attendance a horrible truth in every officer must face: “in law enforcement, no call is routine.”
Sheriff Gulledge and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office was also joined my multiple heads of law enforcement from around the Metro Atlanta area in a show of support for the agency, who lost their first officer in the line of duty after the 190 years since the first Sheriff was sworn in, per Henson.
“This is overwhelming,” Henson said of the outpouring of support from brother officers from all around the area over the weekend, and many residents in and around Paulding County. Some even from around the world with no connection to the local area at all, only that they wanted to give back in some way during a time of grief.
Full video from the press conference is available here on Facebook. (It was not embeddable.)
Gulledge, who spoke after Henson described in further detail the events that transpired Saturday evening and took Cunningham’s life, was circumspect on Monday afternoon.
He said it was a day he hoped would never happen, “but it did.”
“We will get through it, and we will be stronger for it, but it won’t be easy,” Gulledge said.
He also offered his thanks to the many agencies who responded, local and area government and many more who have reached out with support and help.
“Deputy Brandon Cunningham was a hard and dependable worker,” Gulledge said. “His supervisors all loved having him on their shift. He had a bright future and career at this agency or any other agency that he might have chosen to work for. He was a tremendous asset to this agency, and he was always in a good mood. His smile was contagious and would light up whatever room he walked into.”
Cunningham, a husband and father, also enjoyed gaming and the Atlanta Braves. He loved his Nikes and Gulledge described him as a “huge sneaker-head.”
The 30-year-old deputy had just been mandated to serve two years ago.
“He was a humble servant as a deputy as he was at home and around all his loved ones,” Gulledge said. “He had the warmest heart, and he gave his whole heart to his children and those he loved and cherished.”
Gulledge added more thanks for the community overall, and the outpouring of love and support in a variety of ways, including what many have left on a memorial vehicle outside of the Sheriff’s Office.
“I believe it will help our guys to see the community come out and stand behind us, as they always do,” Gulledge said.
Deputy Brandon Cunningham and his partner were dispatched to a domestic dispute in the Harmony Creek subdivision on Saturday evening, and when they arrived at 6:13 p.m. they were met with gunfire from the home. That gunfire rained down on them from a rifle held by James Samuel Atkins.
“They responded to the home, they did everything as they should have according to our training and our policy, and when they got there they were met with evil,” Henson said. “Within 8 seconds of Deputy Cunningham’s arrival, he was gunned down. He never had a shot, he never had an opportunity to do anything.”
As the bullets were flying, Kim Thao Vu was also shot and Cunningham’s partner who “by the grace of God” was not hit, Henson said. Deputies and other officers who arrived on scene attempting to help Cunningham were pinned down as Atkins fired upon them with a rifle from an elevated position. The standoff continued after, and SWAT teams from all around Metro Atlanta were called into help.
Ultimately law enforcement had to utilize a Bearcat armored vehicle to get to Cunningham, but lifesaving efforts at Wellstar Paulding Hospital were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at the medical center on Saturday night.
“What happened to Brandon that day was pure evil,” Henson said.
Hours into the standoff, police were able to determine that Atkins had died of what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Henson reported.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is undertaking the full investigation into the incident. GBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Montgomery focused on his agency’s response to the shooting in his comments at the press conference on Monday afternoon.
“We found that Mr. Atkins had an elevated position and it was able how he was able to murder Deputy Cunningham in such a short period of time,” he said. “We believe he shot 16 times with a AR-15 style 5.56 rifle.”
He added that none of the deputies were able to return fire due to where Atkins was located at the time.
Montgomery added that “it’s just a horrible day. Our hearts go out to them, and I hope this community will continue to pray and support the Sheriff’s Office.”
On Social Media over the weekend and this morning, a continued outpouring of support from local government, organizations and individuals for the Cunningham family was matched by those giving back as well.
More than $32,000 of a $100,000 goal has been raised through the Paulding Public Safety Appreciation fund to help the family following Cunningham’s murder.
Those interested in making a contribution can do so here.
Tentatively, funeral plans are being set for a Friday visitation and service at West Ridge Church, Henson reported before the press conference concluded on Monday afternoon. Times had not yet been set, and the date may be subject to change after the family concludes arrangements.
