A promising Tennessee medical student was shot in an execution-style shooting at a weekend cancer charity walk by his ex-girlfriend, who led a dangerous multi-county car chase, police said. Police announced.
According to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Ellie Claire Young, 22, was shot at the Progress Against Breast Cancer event at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis on Saturday around 12:15 p.m. was shot and killed.
Young was in a Jeep in the parking lot when a suspect in a white Honda CRV fired two shots into Young's car. ABC24 reported.
As she got out of the car, the gunman fired at least one more shot at her as she lay on the ground, witnesses said.
Young was a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. FOX13 reported.
“A beautiful soul inside and out, Ellie dedicated her life to serving others and was well on her way to becoming a great doctor,” a memorial on a GoFundMe page set up in Young's honor said. is written as follows.
“She walked in the sunshine, but now the world is a dark place without her,” the statement added.
Witnesses said the shooting caused chaos at the charity event.
“We were having a great time and as we were walking to our cars after finishing our walk, young women started running and men got out of their cars saying, ‘Pow, pow,’” Walk said. Participant Monica Bell spoke to FOX13 about the confusion. .
“It sounded like how a car backfires. It sounded like that, but when we looked into it, it said we were done, the guy shot his wife in the head.” added another witness.
Young died at the scene.
The suspect, Young's ex-girlfriend Jackson Hopper, 26, is said to have fled the scene in a CRV.
He was pursued during a tense pursuit by officers from both the Town of Mason and the Tipton County Sheriff's Office.
Police said Hopper at one point attempted to run over a Tipton County police officer who was deploying a restraining baton.
The pursuit continued through Lauderdale and into Dyer County. Around 3:30 p.m., a Dyer County deputy struck Hopper's car and attempted to stop him because he was driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic.
Hopper then struggled with the arresting officers, who then noticed a gun was found in the car.
He was arrested for medical treatment and charged with first-degree murder.
Hopper was seen in a booking photo with one eye bruised and swollen shut, but it was not immediately clear whether the injury was caused by the arrest or another incident. Ta.
Police said Young's murder appears to have been the result of a domestic dispute, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Hopper was also charged in Tipton County with possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, felony evasion, aggravated assault without injury, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and speeding. has been done.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy's office announced Monday that prosecutors will not seek bail due to the severity of the charges.
In his first court appearance Monday, Hopper pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, his attorney told FOX13.
As of Tuesday morning, Young's GoFundMe had raised more than $35,000 of its $40,000 goal.
