The community of Paulding County is united in grief following the loss of Sheriff's Deputy Brandon Cunningham, who was fatally shot in an ambush during a domestic call. As details of the somber events unfold, Shayla Benson, Cunningham's fiancée, spoke to FOX 5 Atlanta, expressing her devastation. "He was my whole heart as I was his," she said. Benson herself a deputy with the same sheriff’s office, tragically responded to the scene of the shooting.
In a procession marked by respect and sorrow, law enforcement agencies escorted Deputy Cunningham's remains from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation headquarters to the funeral home. The profound support from the community was on display, with residents lining the procession route. This tragedy hits close to home for Benson and the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, as demonstrated by the signs of mourning and solidarity at the department. "This county has always supported this agency, has always loved us, and stood behind us," Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
James Adkins, the 42-year-old assailant responsible for the ambush attack, also shot his wife before turning the weapon on himself. Cunningham's visitation and funeral services are detailed, with the visitation set for Friday morning and the funeral following at West Ridge Church. The fallen deputy leaves behind a family that has been enveloped in community support and admiration. As reported by WSB-TV, the family, including his mother, Maria Cunningham, expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the gestures and prayers received. "We have been extremely overwhelmed with the kindness the prayers and the gestures and we are nothing but grateful," she said.
Kevin Cunningham, his brother, emphasized the deputy's role as a committed family man and father at a gathering in front of 3 Amigos Mexican Bar and Grill, managed by the Cunningham family. "He was always a wonderful son, brother and most of all he was a great father," Kevin Cunningham told WSB-TV. An official fundraiser has been established to support Cunningham's wife and their two young children amidst warnings to the public about potential scammers seeking to exploit the tragedy.
