‘How can I not be here?’ Community turnout for Paulding County deputy killed in the line of duty

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — The community gathered on Friday afternoon to pay their final respects to a Paulding County deputy who was shot and killed over the weekend.

Deputy Brandon Cunningham, 30, was ambushed while responding to a domestic dispute on Saturday evening.

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West Ridge Church was packed with hundreds for a deputy who was a hero in the eyes of so many, especially his three brothers.

“I had the privilege of watching Brandon grow into the great deputy that he was,” Cobb County Cpl. Jacob Martin said.

Channel 2′s Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell saw family, comrades and law enforcement agencies from across the country honor the life of the Paulding County deputy.

“To our knowledge, this is the first deputy ever killed in the line of duty at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, so it’s enormously tragic,” Paulding County Maj. Ashley Henson said.

Cunningham graduated from Marietta High School with his eyes set on a career in law enforcement. He dedicated four years to the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.

Cunningham leaves behind two children, a fiancée, and so many loved ones, but his legacy lives on.

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As the funeral procession for Cunningham made its way to Kennesaw Memorial Park, people lined up along Dallas Highway to pay their respects.

Many stood with hands on their hearts, others stood in salute. Some waved American flags. Everyone was quiet.

Dawn Bennett, who lives in Paulding County, felt compelled to view the procession.

“This officer was trying to do a good thing and help someone, and he was ambushed and killed in the line of duty, and how can I not be here?” she said.

A couple of women, who did not want to be identified, showed up hours before the funeral to plant American flags at the intersection of Lost Mountain Road and Dallas Highway.

Law enforcement officers from across Georgia formed the procession, which took about 45 minutes to pass.

Don and Jill Frey parked along Dallas Highway three hours before the procession. Their son-in-law is a Paulding County deputy who knew Cunningham.

“I just wanted to come out here and support the police and let them know that people still do care about them, even if they don’t think they do,” she told Channel 2′s Bryan Mims.

Don Frey is an Army veteran whose father was a police chief.

“It tore my heart out, almost out of my chest,” he said. “It hit very close to home.”

He said he needed to be here to show support not only for Cunningham but for his son-in-law who continued to work long hours after the tragedy.

“He continued to serve the people of Paulding County and the state of Georgia, and continued to do his job, even though his heart was broken,” he said.

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‘I tried to get to him:’ Fiancée shares cherished memories of slain Paulding County deputy

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