UPDATED: Weakley County Deputy Dies in On-Duty Incident, Ohio Woman A…

UPDATED: Weakley County Deputy Dies in On-Duty Incident, Ohio Woman Arrested, Charged with First Degree Murder

By The Banner News Team • January 30, 2026 • Updated June 23, 2026

From the Feb 3, 2026 e-Edition

MARTIN, Tenn. (January 30) — Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced on Friday evening that an arrest has been made in the shooting death of Weakley County Sheriff's Deputy Derrick Bonham of Greenfield. Bonham was shot and killed by a female subject at approximately 3 a.m. on Friday during a disturbance check. near UT Martin.

The TBI has arrested Khristi Dawn Cunningham (DOB: 12/14/81) of Ohio and charged her with First Degree Murder.

At approximately 2:51 a.m. Friday, officers from the Martin Police Department responded to a disturbance call at 800 University St. (Days Inn) for possible shots fired.

Deputies from the Weakley County Sheriff's Office responded to assist MPD.

As deputies were responding the scene at approximately 3:09 a.m., they saw an occupied vehicle leaving 821 University St. (Pocket's gas station), at which time the driver fired shots, striking a WCSO deputy.

MPD Officers then responded to the shooting scene on University St. where the suspect was taken into custody.

The WCSO Deputy was transported to Volunteer Community Hospital and later pronounced deceased.

Sheriff Terry McDade said during a press conference at 11 a.m. on Friday that the officer involved was Derrick Bonham, of Greenfield, who was originally from East Tennessee.

The deputy who was killed in an on-duty incident this morning has been identified as Derrick Bonham, a Greenfield resident who served with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office for almost two years.

Bonham is survived by his wife and three young children.

The suspect, who is in custody, has been identified by authorities.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released this statement at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 30.

"An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the arrest of an Ohio woman in connection to the shooting death of a Weakley County deputy.

At the request of 27th Judicial District Attorney General Colin Johnson, TBI special agents began investigating the on-duty homicide of a Weakley County deputy that occurred Friday morning. Just before 3:00 a.m., deputies with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist officers with the Martin Police Department in reference to a shots fired call at a hotel in the 800 block of University Street in Martin. A deputy, who was checking a nearby gas station for witnesses, encountered Khristi Dawn Cunningham (DOB: 12/14/81) just after 3:00 a.m. For reasons still under investigation, Cunningham brandished a weapon and shot the deputy. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died. No other officers were injured in the incident.

Martin Police officers responded to the shooting scene and subsequently took Cunningham into custody. TBI agents charged Cunningham with one count of First Degree Murder. She is being held without bond.

The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law."

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case and is leading the ongoing investigation.

There is no continued threat to the public regarding this incident.

Further information will be provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.