Dalton Police Investigate Fatal Shooting, Possible Self-Defense Claim

The Dalton Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Monday morning, resulting in the death of a 23-year-old Dalton man.

Police were dispatched shortly before 12:30 a.m. on Monday to the Scenic Valley Place apartments off Crawford Street for a report of a fight involving a person with a gun leaving the area in a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers learned that shots had been fired. Although witnesses at the scene were initially unaware that anyone had been struck, responding officers discovered the victim in the parking lot deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.

Dalton officers stopped several vehicles matching the witness description near the scene. One of these vehicles was identified as belonging to the shooter. The occupants were detained and taken to the Police Services Center for interviews.

Preliminary information from the investigation suggests that the deceased man was brandishing a knife during an altercation near the apartments. Investigators were told that the deceased attacked a man who had a gun, and that individual shot him in self-defense. Authorities are still working to establish the events leading up to the altercation.

Following consultation with the district attorney’s office, all parties involved in the incident have been released pending further investigation.

The identity of the deceased is currently being withheld pending notification of his family. The Dalton Police Department is urging anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Chris Tucker at 706-278-9085, extension 9-165.