Four Hispanic Males Found Dead After Shooting at Pleasant Grove Park in Dalton

On Saturday, August 24, 2024, at approximately 11:15 p.m., deputies from the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Pleasant Grove Park, located off Highway 71 in Dalton, following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the bodies of four deceased Hispanic males at the scene.

The Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office has announced they are currently searching for two vehicles: an SUV and a dark-colored hatchback, both of which may have sustained gunshot damage.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) assisting. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 706-278-1233 or the GBI Tip Line at 800-597-8477.

UPDATE August 26, 2024: The four deceased men were identified as 19-year-old Joshua Pedro Pelico-Pelico of Dalton, 21-year-old David Antonio Delgadillo of Dalton, 17-year-old Daniel Segura-Cruz of Rome and 18-year-old Robert Valencia of Rome.

The preliminary investigation indicates that there were individuals that had traveled from Rome, Georgia to meet with Delgadillo and Pelico at the Pleasant Grove Park, for the purpose of obtaining contraband. Evidence also suggest that both parties arrived at the location with firearms. As a result of this encounter between the two parties, gun shots were exchanged between the subjects.

Based on evidence collected on the scene, the individuals from Rome arrived at Pleasant Grove Park with items that are commonly used for concealment and these individual(s) used other methods to conceal their location and identity.

A juvenile has been taken into custody and charged with four counts of felony murder.