Ellie Claire Young Obituary, Death; – Authorities have apprehended a man suspected of being responsible for the murder of a woman at Shelby Farms, following a high-speed pursuit across the Mid-South, as reported by multiple law enforcement agencies.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has identified the victim as 22-year-old Ellie Claire Young from Henning, Tennessee. She succumbed to her injuries at the scene. A GoFundMe page has been established by Young’s family to assist with expenses. On October 19, she was participating in a walk to benefit the American Cancer Society at Shelby Farms Park when she was fatally shot.
Young was a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she was known to have aspirations of becoming a physician, according to statements made to FOX13 by her school. Jackson Hopper, 26, has been booked at 201 Poplar and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Young’s death. The SCSO has indicated that Hopper was Young’s former boyfriend, and additional charges may be forthcoming. On Monday morning, Hopper entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge, as reported by his attorney, Leslie Ballin.
A witness present at the scene captured an image of Hopper’s white Honda CRV parked behind the victim’s Jeep at the time of the incident, as detailed in his arrest affidavit. The photograph reportedly displayed the same Kentucky temporary tags that were recorded by a license plate reader camera at the entrance of Shelby Farms Park, according to the SCSO.
FOX13 interviewed a witness who recounted witnessing the shooting. “This young lady was still running, and another young lady was behind her. A white car pulled up and shot her twice,” stated Monica Bell, who was participating in the cancer walk.
The shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Shelby Farms Visitor Center around 12:15 p.m., coinciding with the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event, which attracted large crowds to the park.
“I was enjoying myself, and after completing my walk, I was heading toward my car when I saw these young ladies running, and then I heard ‘Pow, pow’ as the man drove off,” Bell recounted. Another witness expressed confusion about the unfolding events.
