LaGrange police have made an arrest in connection to the murder of a man at a park at West Point Lake.

LaGrange officers responded to 2786 Mooty Bridge Road (Sunny Point Access) of West Point Lake where they found a male subject suffering from gunshot wounds on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 8:00 A.M.

The male subject, later identified as 69-year/old Kenneth Stanley Dial, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Troup County Chief Deputy Coroner Amy Sheppard. 

“The initial investigation determined that the victim had come to the park to walk earlier in the morning which was routine for him,” police say. “An acquaintance of Stanley who had also entered the park to walk located the victim just before 8:00 A.M. and called 911 for help.”

Witnesses in the area reported hearing gunshots in the general vicinity around 7:30 this morning.  

As the active investigation continued, LaGrange police arrested Billy Joe Tyler III and charged him with the murder of Kenneth Dial. Tyler III was located at Park Avenue and arrested on Monday, August 28, 2023, at approximately 9:00 P.M. He was transported the the LaGrange Police Department and later to the Troup County Jail.

“The investigation determined that Tyler attempted to rob the victim before shooting him and fleeing the area,” police say. “Billy Joe Tyler III was on active felony probation for a Robbery that occurred in the Metro Atlanta area.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LaGrange Police Department at 706-883-2603 or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000.