When night fell on November 7, 2023, eighteen year old Jillian Ludwig from New Jersey was shot and killed in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Shaquille Taylor was the man responsible for this heartbreaking crime. At the time of this tragedy, Taylor had a warrant out for his arrest. Just recently on September 21 he was arrested as a suspect in a car-jacking incident. Taylor failed to appear in court and a warrant was put out for his arrest November 3.

Prior to this arrest, in 2017, Taylor was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail because he was found guilty of aggravated robbery. Around January 5 2023, Taylor spent multiple hours with professionals to determine his mental health. As stated in The Tennessean, one of the doctors, Michael Loftin, stated that Taylor did not show signs of potential harm to oneself or others, therefore did not meet states standards for an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.

On the afternoon of the November 7 around 2:30pm, Nashville police claimed that Taylor was shooting at a car on 13th St. While shooting, a bullet managed to stray and fatally hit Jillian in the back of the head. Jillian laid in the park for over an hour before being found by a civilian, upon which she was rushed to the hospital. On November 8, the eighteen year old was pronounced dead. 

Currently, the Nashville District Attorney is working on passing legislation that deals with mental health. Glenn Funk is working with Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, to work towards a better plan for treatment and evaluation. All we know now is that state lawmakers are going to return to the Capitol on January 9th, 2024. 

All in all our hearts go out to Jillian’s loved ones as this is a tragic accident that no one should have to endure.