Grandfather, 70, and His Dog Fatally Shot After the Pet Got in a Fight with Another Canine at a Park

A grandfather and his dog are dead after they were allegedly shot by another pet owner at a park in Georgia.

Terry Loden, 70, and his wife, Cheryle Loden, were walking their dogs at Simpson Park around 3:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Dec. 21, when they encountered another man walking a dog, Atlanta News First reported.

According to the outlet, the man allegedly shot the Lodens’ dog, Jesse, as Terry tried to pull his pet away from the other animal after the dogs got into a fight.

“Man, what are you doing?” Cheryle recalled Terry asking just before the man allegedly opened fire, Atlanta News First reported.

The couple’s granddaughter was on the phone with Terry at the time and heard him being shot, per the outlet.

Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) later identified the suspect as Todd Alexander Stalcup, 52, according to a news release shared on Facebook. Authorities said they believe Terry and Stalcup did not know each other and “were walking their dogs in the park when the dogs began fighting.”

Cheryle told Atlanta News First that after her husband was shot, she tried to call for help. “When he fell, I just said, ‘I gotta call 911. I gotta call 911.’ And [the shooter] just said, ‘Yeah, you do that,’” she said.

She also told the outlet the suspect paced for a while before driving away.

Stalcup was taken into custody about 15 minutes after the shooting as he attempted to leave the park, the HCSO said. He is being held without bond in the Hall County Jail and faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to authorities.

The sheriff’s office said Terry was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died. His dog also did not survive the injuries sustained.

Terry’s family described the shooting as “senseless and unprovoked,” Atlanta News First reported. Cheryle said her husband was known for helping others: “He was awesome. He’d give his last penny and do anything for anybody. He was an awesome person,” she told the outlet.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for additional information as the investigation continued on Saturday, Dec. 27.