On the afternoon of Sunday, December 21, 2025, a violent confrontation unfolded at Simpson Park in Gainesville, Georgia, turning a quiet holiday weekend outing into a tragedy. Terry Wayne Loden, a 70-year-old male, was walking his dog, a mixed-breed named Jesse, alongside his wife near the shores of Lake Lanier. The couple encountered 52-year-old Todd Alexander Stalcup, who was walking a Shih Tzu in the same area. The two animals began to fight, prompting the owners to intervene and attempt to separate them. Loden was reportedly on the phone with his granddaughter at the time, struggling to pull his dog away from the scuffle.
The situation escalated drastically when Stalcup allegedly produced a handgun during the entanglement. According to investigators and witness accounts, Stalcup first fired at Loden's dog, killing the animal. As Loden stood up and verbally confronted the man about shooting his pet, Stalcup turned the weapon on him and opened fire again. Loden's wife, who was present just feet away, witnessed the shooting, and his granddaughter heard the commotion and gunshots through the phone line.
Stalcup initially remained at the park but attempted to leave the scene in his SUV as law enforcement responded to the emergency calls. Deputies from the Hall County Sheriff's Office intercepted his vehicle and took him into custody approximately 15 minutes after the incident occurred. Loden was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following the arrest, authorities charged Stalcup with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was booked into the Hall County Jail and held without bond. While investigators noted that Stalcup was not charged for the death of the dog, citing a potential claim of defending his own pet, the fatal shooting of Loden resulted in the severe criminal charges he now faces.
