Western South Dakota's Only Ranch Station

Airman convicted of killing his 6-month-old son

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A military jury has convicted a senior airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base of killing his 6-month-old son.

The jury found 26-year-old James Cunningham guilty of murder Thursday in the March 2020 death of his son, Zachariah, following a four-day trial at the Air Force base.

Cunningham can decide whether the military judge or the jury will impose his sentence, which is a maximum of life in prison without parole. Cunningham would serve time in a federal military prison.

Prosecutors said Cunningham lied three times before confessing to punching his son.

Prosecutors say medical evidence showed the baby died from being shaken and hit multiple times.

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Kobey Saunsoci.
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Rapid City, US
7:14 am, April 28, 2024
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