Man Sentenced to 40 Years After Shooting Ex-Girlfriend at Cancer Charity Walk

A Tennessee man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after admitting he killed his ex-girlfriend during a breast cancer charity walk in Memphis. The shooting happened in a public park during a public gathering for a fundraiser.

Jackson Hopper (28) pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of Ellie Young. She was a 22-year-old medical student. PEOPLE reported that the judge accepted the deal in Shelby County court this week.

According to PEOPLE, the shooting took place on October 19, 2024, at Shelby Farms Park. It was during the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk. Young had taken part in the event.

Hopper allegedly arrived in a white SUV. He then parked his car behind her Jeep in the parking lot near the visitor center. The police confirmed that Hopper then fired at Young multiple times while she was trying to get out of her own car.

Prosecutors said the attack did not happen in a moment of random violence. Apparently, Young had broken up with Hopper, which led to his sudden and violent outburst. Furthermore, investigators also believed that Hopper and Young’s relationship was already going through a rough patch before the shooting.

Prosecutors also confirmed that the surveillance footage showed Hopper firing at Young. The footage also showed Hopper turning back and shooting Young repeatedly. They said the medical examiner confirmed that all six gunshot wounds were to Young’s head.

After the shooting, Hopper fled the park and triggered a multi-county police chase. The police admitted that they tried to stop him, but Hopper kept driving and at times headed into oncoming traffic.

Prosecutors also said he attempted to strike officers during the chase before deputies finally used a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle and arrest him. Police later said they found a gun, ammunition, and other items in his car. Hopper still faces extra charges tied to the chase in other counties.

The sentencing hearing was emotional for everyone in the courtroom. Shelby County Judge Carlyn L. Addison said the damage caused by the crime was “immeasurable” and told Young’s family that the plea deal was meant to spare them from the pain of a full trial.

"When you first came to this court, I asked you for grace, I asked you for patience, and I told you I am so deeply sorry for your loss… I do this for you so that you can leave this building never to return. So that maybe you can get some rest, and maybe you can continue to honor your loved one,” Addison said to Young’s family.

Prosecutors made the same point, saying the agreement would keep Young’s loved ones from having to sit through testimony and graphic evidence about her death.

Even Hopper’s defense attorney, Leslie Ballin, said after the proceedings, “After 49 years of practicing law, it never gets easy… Cases like this... It’s tragic, tragic... and if we could turn back the hands of time, this would be a case that you would want to turn back the hands of time on.”

Young’s family agreed to the plea deal, which allowed Hopper to avoid a first-degree murder trial that had been expected later this year. Young’s family has also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hopper.