GEORGIA, — It was a violent week for law enforcement officials across Georgia with several incidents. Here is a summary of recent shootings involving officers and armed suspects.
Paulding County
Deputy Brandon Cunningham, 30, was shot and killed last weekend while responding to a domestic dispute in Paulding County. The sheriff's office described the incident as an "ambush." The suspect, James Samuel Atkins, barricaded himself inside a home for several hours before dying by suicide, according to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office. A memorial service held on Friday saw a large turnout of community members, family, and fellow officers paying their respects to Deputy Cunningham.
Carroll County
Investigator Taylor Bristow, a six-year veteran of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, was shot earlier this week while executing a child exploitation search warrant on Don Rich Road. The suspect, Christopher Bly, opened fire on Bristow and then took his own life, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) reported. Bristow was critically injured and later died at Grady Hospital after undergoing surgery. The GBI seized multiple electronic devices containing child sexual abuse content from the scene, and an investigation is ongoing.
Carroll County
Carroll County faced another violent episode Thursday when a suspect fired a shotgun at deputies during a traffic stop in the Whitesburg community. The suspect, Brenton Morrison, fled on foot and fired at pursuing deputies, shattering a patrol car window and narrowly missing two deputies. A manhunt ensued, and Morrison was later found unconscious in a nearby home. He was arrested and faces multiple charges before being extradited to Alabama. No deputies were injured in the shooting.
Gwinnett County
In Gwinnett County, a 17-year-old boy, Brayden Hemphill, was shot and killed by police after he called 911 on himself, claiming he was armed and a danger. Officers, alongside a mental health clinician, responded to the scene in Sugar Hill. Hemphill, holding a knife, charged at the officers after refusing commands to drop the weapon, prompting them to shoot. Hemphill was pronounced dead at the scene, and the GBI is investigating the incident.
Newton County
Deputies in Covington shot an armed man on Saturday morning after responding to a safety concern at a home on Barshay Drive. According to the GBI, the man exited the back door with a handgun pointed at deputies, who then opened fire, striking him. The man was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The GBI is currently investigating the incident, and the circumstances surrounding the safety call remain unclear.