Belmont University Freshman Dies After Being Shot Near Campus

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
09/11/2023 20h31

Article:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - Jillian Ludwig, an 18-year-old Belmont University freshman from New Jersey, has tragically passed away from her injuries after being shot in the head while walking on a track near campus.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park, where Ludwig was found lying on the track. She was in "extremely critical condition" and sadly succumbed to her injuries overnight on Thursday, Nov. 9.

According to Metro police, surveillance cameras in the area captured the shooting. The footage revealed a man wearing a yellow shirt, jeans, and red shoes firing multiple shots toward a dark sedan traveling along 13th Court towards Deford Bailey Avenue.

Meanwhile, Jillian Ludwig was seen on the opposite side of Deford Bailey Avenue in the park and was hit by a bullet fired by the suspect. She remained on the ground until she was discovered by a passerby about an hour after the shots were fired.

During the investigation, an informant implicated 29-year-old Shaquille Taylor as the individual responsible for the shooting. Taylor was taken into custody by officers as he was exiting an Edgehill Homes apartment on Tuesday evening. He has been charged with aggravated assault and evidence tampering and is currently being held on a $280,000 bond.

It was revealed that Taylor had previous encounters with the law. In fact, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk stated that Taylor was found incompetent earlier this year, preventing him from being prosecuted for three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon related to an incident in August 2021.

As news of Jillian Ludwig's tragic death spread, the Friends of the William Edmondson Homesite Park & Gardens released a statement expressing their deep sorrow and offering prayers and condolences to her family and friends. The community organization, which maintains the neighborhood park where the shooting took place, called for urgent action from elected officials to address rising gun violence through common-sense gun safety and criminal justice reform measures.

The loss of Jillian Ludwig has deeply affected the Belmont University community and the residents of Edgehill. Her untimely death serves as a somber reminder of the need for solutions to combat gun violence and ensure safety in our communities.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and Metro police are currently in discussions regarding potential charges to be upgraded for Shaquille Taylor.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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