PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — It's been more than a week since family and friends said goodbye to fallen Paulding County Deputy Brandon Cunningham. Now, community members are remembering him on what would have been his 31st birthday.
Cunningham died just before he could celebrate another birthday when he was "ambushed" while responding to a domestic dispute call in Hiram on Saturday, Aug. 17. The suspect later died by suicide after barricading himself inside the home for hours, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office said.
Two days ago, his family honored him with a celebration of life at the 3 Amigos Mexican Bar & Grill, his family's restaurant in Marietta. They also held a fundraiser, which will be given to the deputy's mother and two children, Sophia and Xander. The Paulding County Public Safety Appreciation non-profit is the official fundraiser.
A mariachi band, events and community members were there to celebrate his life.
His mother, siblings, and other family previously spoke to 11Alive, describing him as charismatic, happy, and always joking.
Cunningham was a graduate of Marietta High School where he participated in ROTC. Working in law enforcement was his dream, his family said.
Brandon's mother, Maria Elena Cunningham, previously said his life was taken too soon.
"It was a very dangerous job, and he knew it," Maria Elena said through a translator. "I feel such pain for the loss of my son, yet, at the same time, I find it so beautiful that so many people love him."
At the funeral, his mother was full of gratitude for everyone who supported their family.
"It's beautiful to see how many lives and people Brandon touched," she said.
More on Deputy Brandon Cunningham's death
Public Information Officer Maj. Ashley Henson shared more insight into the moments leading up to his death. Henson said as soon as Cunningham responded to a domestic dispute on Foggy Creek Lane in Hiram, he was met with "pure evil."
"When Dep. Cunningham got out of his vehicle, within eight seconds of his arrival, he was gunned down," Henson recounted. "He never had a shot."
Neither did any of the other responding deputies, according to Joe Montgomery with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Henson described it as as bullets hailing down. Montgomery said suspect James Atkins had the upper hand -- shooting from an elevated point inside his home.
"They were approximately 84 feet away when the first shot rang out and tried to get cover from that point on. We believe he shot about 16 times with an AR-15," Montgomery described.
Montgomery said deputies didn't even have the chance to fire back. The suspect's wife was also shot. At last check, authorities said she was stable but in serious condition. Atkins later died by suicide after barricading himself inside the home. Henson said authorities used bearcats and other equipment to try to get inside.
Henson confirmed Atkins had a criminal history, saying he was a convicted felon. The sheriff's office had responded to the home before, and Atkins also had prior robbery charges.
