A man, Jackson Hopper, has admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend, Ellie Claire Young, while she was participating in a charity walk for breast cancer. The victim, a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, was fatally shot during the American Cancer Society’s fundraising event in October 2024. Hopper, who faced a first-degree murder charge, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after Young was found with gunshot wounds in a parking lot in Memphis.
Hopper’s guilty plea, reached in agreement with the victim’s family, was made just before his scheduled murder trial. As part of the deal, Hopper will serve a 40-year prison sentence. The court accepted the plea to facilitate the healing process for Young’s loved ones. Hopper had initially rejected a previous plea deal but eventually accepted this one to provide closure for the family.
In addition to the murder charge, Hopper also faces charges related to a police chase that followed Young’s death. During the pursuit, he allegedly attempted to strike law enforcement officers with his vehicle. Charges against Hopper include aggravated assault, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and assault on a first responder across multiple counties. Furthermore, Young’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking millions in damages.
Hopper’s attorney expressed the tragedy of the case, stating that it was one that no one would want to revisit if given the chance. Despite the plea deal, the legal proceedings surrounding the incident are ongoing.
