Authorities have charged a Habersham County man with murder in the July 4th shooting death of a Stephens County man. 53-year-old Jerry Nathaniel Wall allegedly shot and killed 56-year-old Roger Dale Littleton during an argument.
Wall remains in jail without bond, according to Habersham County jail officials.
Deadly encounter
A 911 caller alerted authorities to the shooting late on the night of July 4th. Habersham County deputies were dispatched to 3848 Antioch Church Road around 10:45 p.m. in reference to a possible aggravated assault. When they arrived they found a man, later identified as Littleton, on the ground outside the residence.
First responders were staged nearby until law enforcement secured the area. “Once that was completed our personnel went in and located a subject deceased on scene,” says Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black.
Habersham County Sheriff’s Capt. Floyd Canup says Wall surrendered without incident. He says the two men knew each other. A joint statement from the coroner and sheriff’s office states that Littleton and Wall were involved in an argument that “escalated and resulted in Littleton being shot.”
A neighbor reported hearing a loud noise in the area around 10:25 that evening. Antioch Church Road between Highway 17 and Mt. Bethel Church Road was closed for approximately three hours as investigators processed the crime scene. A car was towed away from the area and the road reopened around 2 a.m. Friday.
Littleton’s body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for further examination. Wall was initially charged with one count of aggravated assault. Deputies later charged him with murder.
A “tragic situation”
Littleton’s family has set up a Go Fund Me account to help with his funeral expenses. “Dale had no life insurance and was taken way too soon from this world,” a post on the account states. “He was so loved by all his family and friends and will be dearly missed.” He’ll be buried Monday, July 8, in Toccoa.
Calling it a “tragic situation”, Habersham County Coroner Kasey McEntire says “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved.”
This article has been updated to include the murder charge and to reflect that Dale Littleton was from Stephens County, not Habersham as authorities previously reported.
