PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A Paulding County deputy is dead after being ambushed and shot Saturday night following a domestic dispute. The suspect later died by suicide after barricading himself inside the home for hours, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies said it happened while they were responding to a domestic call at a home around 6:15 p.m. in the Harmony Creek subdivision. Paulding County deputies confirmed a woman was also shot and was the one involved with the suspect in the domestic dispute.
Deputies said that the woman left the home after the domestic dispute, came back and then was ultimately shot.
The deputy was identified as Brandon Cunningham. The sheriff's office said this was the first time a deputy had ever been killed in the line of duty in Paulding County.
Paulding County Sheriff Public Information Officer Ashley Henson said that when deputies arrived at the home, they were ambushed, and there was immediate gunfire.
"More deputies arrived on scene when the call for help came out," Henson said. "There was active gunfire raining down on the additional deputies that responded to the scene."
It's not clear at this time what the condition of either the deputy or the person is or what led up to the shooting. Deputies said that the woman left the home after the domestic dispute, came back and then was ultimately shot.
Henson said there are hundreds of law enforcement agents at the scene.
"As you can tell by the look on my face, this is a very dire and serious situation," Henson said. "So, I would appreciate your prayers for both our deputy and the female victim. I would appreciate your prayers for the men and women who are out there right now trying to get this situation resolved peacefully."
The deputy and the woman were shot in Hiram, which is about 27 miles west of Atlanta. The shooting happened on Virgie Ballentine Drive, which is on the same road as Hiram High School. A massive police presence can still be seen in the area of where shots were fired.
Cobb County Police confirmed with 11Alive they are assisting Hiram Police with the investigation.
Watch the full press conference below: