MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man was arrested in connection to a shooting at Shelby Farms that left a woman dead just after noon Saturday, Oct. 19.
Shelby Farms is usually where people bike, have picnics and do other fun activities. Things tend to be quiet and serene. But Saturday’s tragedy is making some of these park-goers reflect on safety in their community.
"Things like this are very shocking, especially like we had last year — the teacher who was running," said Bryson Scrip, who regularly visits Shelby Farms. "It's just things like that are just like so broken — this society."
Ellie Claire Young, 22, was shot and killed in a crowded parking lot following a breast cancer survivors event in the park. Her ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Jackson Hopper, was the suspect involved in the shooting.
Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said he fled the scene in a car, which led officials on a multi-county high-speed pursuit. Hopper was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after the chase ended in Dyer County.
"Things like this happened quite often where we just have like random shootings or just things like that," Scrip said. "I don’t think we're necessarily unsafe, but there are places and just inconvenient times where bad things happen."
Rev. Alvin McKinney came to the park to play saxophone and spread the word of God. Though this was a tragic incident, he feels like this park can continue to be the safe and relaxing place that many people know it to be.
"I’m very sorry to hear about the situation, but it’s like a one-off, and we have some problems if you listen to the news, but still, I’m seeing improvement in the city of Memphis," he said. "Through the power of prayer and coming together, people are coming together, and I’m seeing a lot of spiritual strongholds torn down, so I’m really believing for the love of God to come back to our city."
This incident is still under investigation, and Hopper has a video arraignment scheduled for Monday. Deputies add that in addition to first-degree murder, more charges may come.