Four people found shot to death at park, Georgia deputies say. Now, 16-year-old charged
Four people were found dead at a north Georgia park after reports of gunfire, deputies said.
Now, a 16-year-old is charged with four counts of felony murder in the Aug. 24 incident, WSB-TV and WAGA reported, citing the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.
The teen, who wasn’t publicly identified, is accused of shooting and killing four people Saturday in a suspected robbery-turned-shootout at Pleasant Grove Park in Dalton, according to WAGA.
Deputies were called at about 11:15 p.m. after residents reported hearing gun shots, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies arrived to find four people shot to death. Authorities released their identities on Monday:
- David Antonio Delgadillo, 21, of Dalton
- Joshua Pedro Pelico-Pelico, 19, of Dalton
- Robery Valencia, 18, of Rome
- Daniel Segura-Cruz, 17, of Rome
“This is a very complicated case,” Sheriff Scott Chitwood said at a news conference, according to WSB-TV. “There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle that we are putting together still.”
Investigators believe Valencia and Segura-Cruz traveled from Rome to buy contraband from Delgadillo and Pelico-Pelico, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
“The individuals from Rome, Georgia, arrived at Pleasant Grove Park with items that are commonly used for concealment, and these individuals used other methods to conceal their location and identity,” deputies said.
Authorities believe multiple weapons were used and pointed to several shell casings at the scene, WAGA reported. They said they don’t believe the shooting was gang-related.
Authorities didn’t release additional details but said the investigation is ongoing.
Dalton is about a 90-mile drive northwest from downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 9:14 AM with the headline "Four people found shot to death at park, Georgia deputies say. Now, 16-year-old charged."