A disturbing incident in Marietta, Georgia, on January 3, 2024, turned a day of celebration into a scene of a brutal crime. 

Kenneth Cunningham, a 40-year-old resident, was tragically gunned down outside his apartment at The Harlow complex near the bustling intersection of Cobb Parkway and Windy Hill Road.

Thirty-three-year-old Donovan Carter of Gwinnett County, Georgia, is now in custody, facing multiple grave charges such as murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a firearm during a criminal act. 

The Marietta Police Department, led by Public Information Officer Chuck McPhilamy, described the event as a meticulously planned and premeditated attack.

Cunningham, who was in a romantic relationship with Carter’s ex-girlfriend, was lured out of his apartment under the pretense of receiving a package delivery. 

It was his 40th birthday, a day he expected to celebrate with family and friends who had come from Chicago. Instead, it turned into a fatal trap. Witnesses reported seeing a slender, six-foot-tall male fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting, which involved multiple gunshots.

The Marietta Police Department’s swift response and coordination with various law enforcement agencies, including the Cobb County 911 Center, Cobb County Police Department, Smyrna Police Department, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gwinnett County Police Department, were crucial in Carter’s rapid arrest in Gwinnett County.

The loss of Cunningham has deeply affected his family and community. Described as a kind-hearted and humorous individual, his aunt, Daphne Bell, fondly remembered him for his ability to make others laugh with jokes, anecdotes, and impersonations. Neighbors and friends expressed their shock and grief, extending prayers for the family’s healing.

The investigation revealed that Carter intentionally drove over an hour to Cunningham’s location, in disguise and posing as a delivery driver as part of his plan. This calculated act enabled him to confront and fatally shoot Cunningham multiple times outside his apartment.

The Marietta Police Department continues its investigation to provide justice for Kenneth Cunningham and his grieving loved ones. The motive behind the murder is suspected to stem from a romantic entanglement, but authorities have confirmed that Carter’s ex-girlfriend was not involved in the shooting.