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A Georgia grandfather and his dog were fatally shot just days before Christmas by another pet owner as the victim’s horrified wife watched on.
Terry Loden, 70, died while walking in a public park in Gainesville on Sunday afternoon, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
The tragic sequence of events began when Loden’s dog, Jesse, fought with another dog at Simpson Park, cops said.
Simpson Park is located on Lake Lanier. According to the park’s website, dogs are allowed but need to be leashed. It’s unclear whether either dog had a leash before violence broke out.
The situation drastically escalated when the second pet owner, Todd Alexander Stalcup, 52, allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot Loden’s precious pet.
Stlacup then allegedly shot Loden on his right side as his wife, Cheryle, rushed to save him.
She told local news outlet, Atlanta News First, that her husband was on the phone with their granddaughter when he was shot.
Cheryle said her husband told their granddaughter to ‘hang on,’ and she overheard him instruct Jesse not to ‘mess with that dog,’ before shots rang out.
Terry Loden, 70, was shot and killed while walking his dog with his wife, Cheryle (pictured), on Sunday
Todd Alexander Stalcup, 52, was arrested and charged with the grandfather’s murder after allegedly shooting Loden and his dog at the park
The altercation occurred in the afternoon at Simpson Park (pictued) in Gainesville, Georgia. Loden later died at a nearby hospital
‘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.
‘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 alleged that Stalcup was pacing as her husband fought for his life, and then eventually drove off in his vehicle.
His wife put pressure on Loden’s wound until the ambulance arrived but he later died at a local hospital.
Deputies apprehended Stalcup about 15 minutes after the altercation. He was charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm used in a crime.
Stalcup is in custody at the Hall County jail and isn’t eligible for bond, according to jail records.
Loden’s family said his murder was ‘senseless and unprovoked.’ Cheryle said the two men weren’t fighting before her husband was shot, and the tragedy unfurled quickly.
Cheryle told local news that she tried to save her husband after he and their dog were fatally shot
Cheryle said her husband was talking to their granddaughter on the phone when shots rang out. She described Loden as a selfless and awesome person
The grandfather’s loved ones told Atlanta News First that they hope the culprit is punished to the ‘fullest extent of the law.’
Family members described Loden as a selfless and awesome person. One of Loden’s most recent posts on his Facebook account was a fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
He asked his social media friends to donate to the nonprofit in his honor for his birthday.
Cheryle described her husband to local news, saying, ‘He’d give his last penny and do anything for anybody.’
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