16-year-old in custody; 4 men found shot to death at park in Northwest Georgia

A 16-year-old has been arrested on murder charges after four young men were found dead in a North Georgia park over the weekend, according to authorities.

The victims, all Hispanic, had been shot around 11:15 p.m. Saturday in Pleasant Grove Park in Whitfield County, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. The area is just north of Dalton.

The victims were identified as Daniel Segura-Cruz, 17; Robert Valencia, 18; Joshua Pedro Pelico-Pelico, 19; and David Antonio Delgadillo, 21. The two younger victims were from Rome while the others were from Dalton.

The suspect, also from Rome, was taken into custody a short time later and is facing four counts of felony murder, Sheriff Scott Chitwood said Sunday evening. The teen’s name was not released.

On Monday, officials said they believe that a group of people traveled from Rome to meet Delgadillo and Pelico at the park “for the purpose of obtaining contraband.” The type of contraband was not specified.

Both groups arrived to the meeting armed, and at some point, a shootout ensued, authorities said.

“We have reason to believe the motive was robbery, possibly (of) some contraband that was found in the vehicle that was at the scene,” Chitwood previously said.

“We have absolutely no reason at all to believe it’s gang-related whatsoever,” he added. “It is sadly just a very isolated incident.”

The sheriff’s office said the GBI has been asked to assist with the investigation.

No other details have been released as of early Monday afternoon. It was not clear if investigators are searching for any additional suspects.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 706-278-1233 or the GBI’s tip line at 800-597-8477.

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