Authorities have confirmed that the individuals involved in the tragic incident in Whitfield County, Ga. ranged in age from 17 to 21.
A teenager has been taken into custody following the discovery of four deceased individuals in a park in Georgia, as confirmed by authorities.
A 16-year-old suspect has been apprehended by authorities on four counts of felony murder, as reported by 11 Alive, WTVC, and Atlanta News First, citing the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect’s name has not been disclosed.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office responded to a shooting incident at Pleasant Grove Park late in the evening on Saturday, Aug. 24, as per a news release. Upon their arrival, deputies discovered the unfortunate loss of four individuals of Hispanic descent.
The names of the victims have not been made public, however, the sheriff’s office has confirmed that they were aged 21, 19, 18, and 17, as reported by 11 Alive. Two individuals hailed from Dalton, Ga., while the other two originated from Rome, Ga.
The victims are:
- 21-year-old David Antonio Delgadillo of Dalton,
- 19-year-old Joshua Pedro Pelico-Pelico of Dalton,
- 18-year-old Robert Valencia of Rome and
- 17-year-old Daniel Segura-Cruz of Rome.
“We have absolutely no reason at all to believe it’s gang-related whatsoever. Thing is, sadly, just a very isolated incident,” Whitfield County Sheriff Scott Chitwood said at a press conference held on Sunday, Aug. 25, per WTVC.
“There were multiple weapons involved. We know that because of the multiple shell casings that were located on the scene,” Chitwood said, adding that one of the groups had contraband in their car.
According to authorities, the investigation is still in progress and they are actively searching for two vehicles involved in the incident. One is described as an SUV-type vehicle, while the other is a dark-colored hatchback. Both vehicles are believed to have been hit by gunshots.
If you have any information regarding the tragic shooting incident, please reach out to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office at 706-278-1233 or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at 800-597-8477.