Authorities say a 52-year-old suspect was arrested minutes after the shots at Simpson Park and now faces multiple murder counts.
GAINESVILLE, GA — A 70-year-old man and his dog were shot to death during an afternoon walk at Lake Lanier’s Simpson Park on Dec. 21, 2025, as his wife looked on, according to Hall County authorities and the family. Deputies arrested a 52-year-old man minutes later and booked him into the county jail.
The killing reverberated across Hall County because it happened in a public park on a quiet Sunday and stemmed, investigators say, from a scuffle between two dogs that escalated into gunfire. The victim, identified by relatives as Terry Loden of Gainesville, died after being rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. His dog, Jesse, also died. The suspect, identified by officials as Todd Alexander Stalcup, was taken into custody about 15 minutes after the shooting as he tried to leave the park, investigators said. Stalcup faces felony and malice murder counts along with other charges tied to the shooting.
Cheryle Loden said she and her husband were walking their dogs like they do most Sundays when one of their pets tangled with a dog being walked by a stranger near the Simpson Park trails along Lake Lanier. She said the encounter turned from shouting to gunfire within moments. “It was unprovoked and terrifying,” she said in an interview. Family members said Terry had been on a phone call with a granddaughter when the shots rang out. Cheryle recalled that after the first shot struck their dog, her husband stepped toward the man and questioned him. A second shot dropped Terry to the ground. She said the shooter then told her to call 911 before leaving toward the parking area, where deputies later stopped a sport-utility vehicle and detained a suspect who matched witness descriptions.
Hall County investigators said the first 911 calls came just after 3 p.m. that Sunday and that deputies, firefighters and paramedics converged on Simpson Park within minutes. Responders administered medical aid and transported Terry Loden to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The family dog, Jesse, succumbed to injuries at the scene, according to relatives. Authorities identified the suspect as Todd Alexander Stalcup, 52, of Hall County. Jail records show he was booked on counts including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Investigators have not alleged that Loden was armed, and they have not released ballistics totals or the make and model of the weapon. Detectives said additional forensic testing, including autopsy findings and trajectory analysis, remains pending. A motive beyond the dog fight has not been established.
Simpson Park sits just south of Gainesville on the Lake Lanier shoreline and is popular for weekend walks, boat ramp access and short wooded trails that weave between picnic areas. Neighbors said Sunday afternoons are usually busy with families and anglers. Records show Loden, a grandfather and longtime Hall County resident, frequented the park with his wife and dogs. The shooting fueled a wave of grief posts from friends who described him as soft-spoken and helpful. Family members said he loved bird-hunting with Jesse, a gun dog trained over years. While prior police calls to the park are rare, county crime maps show sporadic reports of thefts from vehicles and occasional disturbances near the ramps; shootings there are uncommon. The incident drew renewed attention to disputes that begin as minor confrontations on trails or in parking lots and escalate quickly when a firearm is present, according to local leaders who commented after the killing.
After the arrest, Stalcup was transported to the Hall County Jail. Authorities said detectives executed search warrants for the suspect’s vehicle and residence to collect the firearm and any related evidence. Prosecutors with the Northeastern Judicial Circuit reviewed the case file and prepared initial charging documents. A first-appearance hearing was held shortly after booking, standard in felony cases; officials did not immediately release bond information. The case is expected to proceed to a grand jury in Gainesville, which meets regularly to consider indictments. If indicted, Stalcup would be arraigned in Superior Court, where prosecutors would outline the counts and potential sentencing ranges. The sheriff’s office said additional charges could be added as lab results and ballistics reports come back. Officials have not announced a projected timeline for those results.
In the days after the shooting, relatives gathered at the park to leave flowers near a trailhead marker and to thank strangers who had called 911 and stayed with Cheryle before deputies arrived. “My grandfather was gentle and patient,” Loden’s granddaughter said in a televised interview; she said she heard the shots over the phone and the chaos that followed. Friends described Terry as a dependable neighbor who helped repair boat trailers and offered rides to medical appointments. A woman who walks at Simpson Park most afternoons said the area still felt safe but quieter this week. “People are stopping to look down the trail,” she said. “It’s awful.” One fisherman recalled seeing patrol units speeding toward the park entrance and families ushering children toward cars. “It was surreal,” he said.
The investigation remains active, with detectives seeking additional witnesses who were on the trail or near the ramp around the time of the gunfire on Dec. 21. Prosecutors said they will review evidence from body-worn cameras, 911 recordings and any park surveillance feeds that could capture departing vehicles. The sheriff’s office said updates on bond status and court dates would be released as they are scheduled. As of this week, no formal motive had been detailed beyond the confrontation that began with the dogs. The county is reviewing whether additional signage or patrols are warranted at busy lakefront parks during peak weekend hours. Funeral plans for Terry Loden were handled privately, relatives said.
Author note: Last updated January 9, 2026.