Khristi Dawn Cunningham, 44, from Ohio, faces first-degree murder charges for fatally shooting Weakley County Sheriff’s Deputy Derrick Bonham, 37, on January 30, 2026, in Martin, Tennessee, after luring responders with a staged shots-fired call.
Incident Sequence
At 2:52 a.m., Cunningham called 911 reporting gunfire at Days Inn while firing a pistol in the parking lot, then drove to nearby Pocket’s convenience store to monitor police response, making hang-up calls that pinpointed her via GPS. Bonham arrived, asked her to exit her vehicle; bodycam shows her drawing a pistol, shooting him once, then three more times as he lay incapacitated, plus two shots toward Martin PD officers.
Arrest and Victim Details
Martin police arrested Cunningham on scene; Bonham, a husband, father of three, U.S. Army veteran described as “kind, quiet, humble,” died at Volunteer Community Hospital. Previously a corrections officer/manager at Indian River Juvenile Facility in Ohio, she remains jailed without bond as TBI investigates premeditation.
Sheriff Response
Sheriff Terry McDade called it a “great tragedy,” hoping severe punishment: “I hope the person responsible doesn’t breathe our air anymore.” No ongoing public threat; case highlights responder dangers from false calls.
