A Tennessee medical student attending a cancer charity walk was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, who subsequently led police on an 80-mile, high-speed chase that ended with him crashing his car, authorities allege.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, at 12:15 p.m., deputies rushed to the parking lot of the Shelby Farms Visitor’s Center in Memphis about a report of a fatal shooting, according to a statement from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
A young woman identified as Ellie Claire Young, 22, who was there for the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides against Breast Cancer” walk, was found lying on the ground near her Jeep Wrangler, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to an affidavit of complaint obtained .
Paramedics pronounced Young dead at 12:36 p.m.
Witnesses said Young was parked in a parking space in the lot when a white Honda CR-V with a temporary Kentucky license plate pulled up behind her Jeep.
The man driving the CR-V, identified as Jackson Hopper, 26, of Tiptonville, fired two shots into the back of Young’s Jeep, police allege in the affidavit.
Jackson Hopper.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
When Young got out of the Jeep, Hopper “fired at least one more shot into the victim as she lay on the ground,” the affidavit alleges.
The shooting took place while the cancer walk was still going on, WREG reports.
Young had recently broken up with Hopper, family members who arrived at the scene told deputies.
Ellie Claire Young.
GoFundMe
The victim was a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center who was studying to become a doctor, Fox13 reports.
License plate reader cameras monitoring the entrance to the park showed Young’s Jeep entering the park at 12:11 p.m., with Hopper’s SUV following just a few seconds behind hers, the affidavit says.
Detectives recovered five 9mm shell casings and three live 9mm rounds at the scene.
Hopper was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty on Monday, Oct. 21. He is being held without bond in Shelby County.
Video footage of Hopper’s CR-V after it flipped over shows officers repeatedly asking Hopper to show his hands, WREG and ABC 24 report.
Police allege that he tried to fight with officers when he was caught, according to WREG. Tipton police also said he allegedly tried to run over the Tipton County Constable and a Dyer County sergeant.
The video shows police allegedly punching Hopper when he emerged from the vehicle, WREG reports.
“This was a very volatile situation with an armed suspect,” Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Oct. 22. “Each of these law enforcement officers, and hundreds of civilians, lives were at risk while in the pursuit of justice of this fleeing murder suspect.”
Lauderdale County Sheriff Brian Kelley wrote in a post on his department’s Facebook page Tuesday, Oct. 22, an internal affairs investigation into any allegations of officer misconduct has been launched.
“The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office never condones personnel misconduct but understands that all sources of information must be evaluated before conclusions can be drawn,” Kelley wrote.
Beasley asked the public to wait for a review of facts before drawing conclusions.
Ellie Claire Young.
GoFundMe
Hopper is being held without bond in Shelby County.
Hopper is also facing charges in Tipton County including possession of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, felony evading, aggravated assault w/o injury, reckless driving, and speeding 21+MPH, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office said, ABC 24 reports.
Young’s relatives started a GoFundMe for her funeral and other expenses, saying, “She was walking sunshine, and the world is now a darker place without her.”
