A 70-year-old grandfather was shot and killed alongside his dog in a public park in Georgia, United States, just days before Christmas, as his wife looked on in horror.
A Peaceful Walk Turns to Tragedy
The Hall County Sheriff's Office reported that Terry Loden, 70, died after being shot on Sunday afternoon in Simpson Park, Gainesville. The incident began when Loden's dog, Jesse, became involved in a fight with another dog during a walk with Terry and his wife, Cheryle.
The situation escalated violently when the other dog's owner, Todd Alexander Stalcup, 52, allegedly produced a handgun and shot Loden's pet. According to police reports and Cheryle's account, Stalcup then turned the firearm on Terry Loden, shooting him on his right side as Cheryle rushed to his aid.
Wife Recounts Harrowing Final Moments
Cheryle Loden told Atlanta News First that her husband was on the phone with their granddaughter when the shots were fired. She overheard him tell the child to 'hang on' and instruct Jesse not to 'mess with that dog.'
'He was on top of her pulling her off and about that time, the man just shot my dog, and Terry stood up and said, "Man what are you doing?" And he just shot him,' Cheryle recalled. She described her husband's final words to her: 'He just looked up at me and said, "I love you." He said, "I’m going." I said, "No, you’re not."'
Cheryle said she was calling 911 when her husband was shot, and Stalcup allegedly replied, 'Yeah, you do that.' She alleges Stalcup paced nearby as her husband lay wounded before eventually driving away. Cheryle administered first aid until an ambulance arrived, but Terry Loden later died at a nearby hospital.
Suspect in Custody and Family's Anguish
Deputies apprehended Todd Alexander Stalcup approximately 15 minutes after the altercation. He now faces multiple charges including murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Jail records confirm he is being held at the Hall County jail and is not eligible for bond.
The Loden family has described the killing as 'senseless and unprovoked,' emphasising that the two men were not engaged in a physical fight prior to the shooting. They hope the culprit is punished to the 'fullest extent of the law.'
Loved ones remembered Terry Loden as a selfless and generous man. One of his most recent Facebook posts was a birthday fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 'He’d give his last penny and do anything for anybody,' Cheryle said of her husband.
