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James Samuel Atkins

Gender : Male

Age : 41

Race : White

Date : 08/17/2024

Location : Foggy Creek Lane

City : Hiram

County : Paulding

State : Georgia

Agency : Paulding County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Brandon Cunningham

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On August 17, 2024, at approximately 6:13 p.m., Paulding County Sheriff's Office deputies, including 30-year-old Deputy Brandon Cunningham, responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence on Foggy Creek Lane in Hiram, Georgia. James Samuel Atkins, 42, ambushed the responding deputies, fatally shooting Deputy Cunningham.
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During the incident, Atkins also shot his wife, 52-year-old Kim Thao Vu, as she attempted to flee the home. She was transported to an Atlanta-area hospital in serious but stable condition.
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Following the shootings, Atkins locked himself inside the residence. Police escalated to a standoff, which lasted several hours, at which point officers forced entry into the home and discovered Atkins deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is conducting an independent investigation into the incident. Upon completion, the findings will be submitted to the appropriate judicial authorities for review.
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NUMBER OF CASUALTIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality, 1 injured (Kim Thao Vu)
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Last Update: December 2, 2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.paulding.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13985/Deputy-Brandon-Cunningham-PR
https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/paulding-county/metro-atlanta-sheriffs-office-identify-shooter-who-ambushed-killed-deputy/VDFWTJPYGVERJDRZTUKF3IG2QE/
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/suspect-accused-shooting-killing-paulding-county-deputy-identified/85-f9888510-0deb-4a6d-9b48-e66b3ed52f4e