Paulding County Deputy Killed in Hiram Domestic Dispute; Suspect Dead After SWAT Standoff

On Saturday, August 17th, a Paulding County deputy was killed in the line of duty, and a woman was injured following a domestic dispute in Hiram, Georgia. Paulding County Sheriff Deputies responded to the call at approximately 6:15 p.m. Upon their arrival, two deputies were shot at from inside the home. Additional deputies arrived at the scene and were also met with gunfire.

During the exchange, Deputy Brandon Cunningham was wounded and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died. Paulding County Sheriff’s Major Ashley Henson described the incident as an ambush, stating that gunfire rained down on the deputies. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home for several hours. SWAT teams were called in to assist, and after forcing entry into the home, they discovered the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been asked to investigate the incident.

The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office released a statement, saying, “Tonight has been one of the hardest in the history of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. With much sorrow and grief, we mourn the loss of Deputy Brandon Cunningham who was killed in the line of duty earlier this evening.”

Deputy Brandon Cunningham, 30, had served with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office for about four years. He leaves behind two children.

UPDATE: The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office provided the following update:

The deputies responded to a domestic dispute at 30 Foggy Creek Lane, Hiram, GA, which is within 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. We can now confirm that the female victim is 52-year-old Kim Thao Vu, 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. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The suspect was identified as 42-year-old James Samuel Atkins. The Sheriff confirmed that he took his own life.

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.

Donation Link: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/4BR8NG5JAQQ9Z/checkout/HAPUUD6KJCMZGTJKSP4RTLZO