Gainesville, Georgia — A tranquil Sunday afternoon turned deadly at Simpson Park when 70-year-old Terry Loden was fatally shot while trying to protect his family dog, Jesse, who had gotten into a scuffle with another canine. The shocking incident occurred in front of Loden’s wife, Cheryle, and while he was on the phone with his granddaughter during their routine park visit.
Around 3:30 PM, the couple was enjoying a walk when Jesse and a stranger’s dog began to fight. Cheryle described how Terry immediately sought to separate the dogs when the assailant, identified as 52-year-old Todd Alexander Stalcup, pulled out a handgun and opened fire on both the dog and Terry. Witnesses say the confrontation escalated rapidly without any previous altercation between the two men.
As the horrifying scene unfolded, Cheryle recounted her husband’s last moments. “He stood up and said, ‘Man, what are you doing?’ And he just shot him,” she explained. In a frantic effort to save Terry, Cheryle called 911 while attempting to apply pressure to his wound. Their granddaughter heard the entire exchange, including Terry’s attempt to calm the situation before shots rang out.
Despite her desperate attempts to keep him awake, Cheryle shared that Terry looked up at her to say, “I love you. I’m going,” moments before he lost consciousness. The emotional weight of the moment was compounded by the sound of gunfire that had interrupted their peaceful outing.
Stalcup fled the scene in his SUV but was apprehended by law enforcement just 15 minutes later. He is now facing multiple charges, including malice murder and aggravated assault, as well as possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to officials.
Terry was pronounced dead after being transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. The family issued a statement calling the incident “senseless and unprovoked,” mourning a man they described as selfless and caring. Cheryle reflected on her husband’s character, stating, “He would give his last penny and do anything for anybody. He was an awesome person.”
In the wake of this tragic event, the community grapples with the loss of a beloved grandfather and his faithful dog while calling for an examination of safety in public spaces. The sorrow felt by the Loden family is palpable, as they remember a man whose life was cut short in a moment of violence that no one could have anticipated.