HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A routine walk at a Hall County park turned deadly Sunday afternoon when a fight between two dogs escalated into a fatal shooting, killing a 70-year-old man and his dog.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office responded to Simpson Park off Georgia Highway 53 around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Investigators said the victim and a 52-year-old man were walking their dogs when the animals began fighting. During the confrontation, the suspect “shot the victim’s dog with a handgun and then shot the victim,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Hall County Fire Rescue transported the man to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died. The victim’s dog also died from gunshot wounds.
Authorities said the suspect initially remained at the scene but attempted to leave in his SUV as deputies arrived. Deputies stopped and detained him on Simpson Park Road at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Investigators confirmed the two men did not know each other and are both residents of the Gainesville area.
The suspect remains in custody as authorities finalize charges. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said it expects to release the identities of the victim and suspect on Monday, Dec. 22.
