A man who fatally shot his former girlfriend during a cancer charity walk is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to her murder. Jackson Hopper, 27, was charged with first-degree murder for killing Ellie Claire Young, a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center who was fundraising for a breast cancer charity. Young was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot of the Shelby Farms Visitor’s Center in Memphis and tragically passed away.
Hopper changed his plea to second-degree murder just before his scheduled trial in July, agreeing to a 40-year prison term in coordination with Young’s family. Initially rejecting a previous offer, Hopper’s decision was seen as a step towards closure for the grieving family. The judge, Carlyn Addison, expressed hope that the family could now begin to heal.
In addition to the murder charge, Hopper faces multiple charges for leading police on a chase following Young’s death, including aggravated assault, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and assault on a first responder. He is also the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit seeking significant damages from Young’s family.
Hopper’s defense attorney, Leslie Ballin, described the case as tragic, expressing the wish to undo the events that transpired. The plea deal marks a somber chapter in a case marred by loss and legal proceedings.