In Hiram, Georgia, a tragic incident unfolded as a Georgia sheriff’s deputy lost his life in the line of duty while responding to a reported domestic dispute. The officers were met with gunfire as they arrived at a home in a subdivision, described as an ambush by the suspect. The perpetrator proceeded to shoot at other officers, injuring one, before taking his own life, according to Major Ashley Henson of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Brandon Cunningham, 30, succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital, as confirmed by Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge. The sheriff expressed the profound loss, stating that they had lost a hero, emphasizing the challenging period ahead for the department and its members. The suspect, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

During the altercation, a woman connected to the domestic dispute had initially left but returned while law enforcement was present. She too was shot and subsequently hospitalized in stable condition in the Atlanta area. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will take charge of the case, with Henson mentioning uncertainty regarding whether any officers returned fire in the incident that occurred approximately 27 miles northwest of Atlanta.

Describing the event as a “tremendously tragic situation,” Henson noted the unprecedented loss of an officer in the line of duty for the sheriff’s office. The gravity of the moment was evident in his words as he expressed the deep sadness and heartache experienced by all involved.