DALLAS, Ga. — The Paulding County community is wrapping its arms around fallen Deputy Brandon Cunningham.
Brandon was shot in the line of duty. A spokesperson for the Spaulding County Sheriff's Office said Brandon and another deputy were responding to a dispute at a home on Foggy Creek Lane in Hiram on Saturday. This is in the Harmony Creek Subdivision.
When deputies arrived, they were met with gunfire. The suspect is now identified as James Atkins. The woman involved in the dispute is now identified as Kim Thao Vu.
Vu is described as Atkins' wife who had left the scene and returned. When Vu came back, she was also shot. She remains in the hospital.
Atkins eventually died by suicide.
Sharise Cunningham said she's Brandon's aunt. She video chatted with 11Alive's Tresia Bowles while in Tijuana. Sharise said Brandon comes from a long line of veterans and men in blue. Becoming a deputy was his dream.
“He was destined to do great things if some jerk didn’t take that away from him," Sharise said, “I just want people to know that they lost one of the good ones.”
Sharise was there when Brandon was sworn in. She describes him as lighthearted, loving, and even-tempered.
“There are so many stories about bad cops out there, but he wasn’t one," Sharise said.
Records show Brandon has training in domestic violence intervention.
Hundreds of officers from all over the metro responded to the scene Saturday. Many of them came back on Sunday to show support or issue words of support via social media.
Organizations quickly started making plans to help.
The Jess Rousey Honoring Heroes Foundation stopped by the sheriff's office Sunday with pans of food and snacks for deputies. Samantha Rousey Glass said, at times like this, the community comes together.
“Our first thought was how can we help? What can we do?” Glass said.
The Paulding County Public Safety Appreciation, a non-profit, also wanted to help. So, they started selling shirts with the proceeds going to Brandon's family. Organizer Jarid Ison said the support has been overwhelming. They've already sold 600 shirts. Support here.
"We‘ve raised over $20,000, so far," Ison said.
Sharise said some of the family have ordered shirts.
“We love him. We miss him," Sharise said. "And thank everyone for the outpouring of support.”
Sharise said the community support has provided some much-needed relief.
“There is some comfort in it. Of course, it’s not going to bring him back home," she said.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office said to be mindful of fake fundraisers. Be sure to donate directly to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.
A sheriff's deputy unit memorial is set to be unveiled Monday morning.