MARTIN, Tenn. — An Ohio woman has been arrested following the shooting death of a Weakley County deputy early Friday morning, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The incident occurred just before 3 a.m. when deputies from the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of shots fired at a hotel in the 800 block of University Street.
Deputy Derrick Bonham was checking a nearby gas station for witnesses when he encountered 44-year-old Khristi Dawn Cunningham. Authorities say that, for reasons still under investigation, Cunningham drew a weapon and shot Bonham. He was immediately transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Following the shooting, officers from the Martin Police Department apprehended Cunningham at the gas station. She has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently being held without bond while the investigation continues.
Bonham, a Greenfield resident, had served with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office for two years and was remembered as a dedicated officer. He is survived by his wife and three young children, marking a devastating loss for both his family and the community.
Sheriff Terry McDade expressed his grief over the incident, highlighting the bravery and commitment of Bonham in the line of duty. In a show of solidarity, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett extended condolences on behalf of law enforcement colleagues, urging the public to keep Bonham’s family and the sheriff’s office in their thoughts during this tragic time.
The investigation is being led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as authorities work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The community, grappling with this loss, is left to reflect on the dangers law enforcement officers face while striving to protect their neighborhoods.