A man who fatally shot his ex-girlfriend during a charity walk for breast cancer 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, while she was participating in the American Cancer Society’s fundraising event in October 2024.
Young was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a parking lot in Memphis and was pronounced dead. Hopper recently confessed to second-degree murder as part of a plea deal reached just before his trial was scheduled to start in July. The agreement, made in coordination with Young’s family, will see Hopper incarcerated for 40 years.
Initially declining a previous offer, Hopper’s acceptance of the new plea deal was commended by the judge, who expressed hope that Young’s family could now begin to heal. The family’s attorney emphasized that the resolution allows them to move forward and requested privacy for the grieving family.
Moreover, Hopper is facing additional charges related to a police chase that ensued after Young’s murder. He allegedly attempted to flee in a car, endangering law enforcement officers in Tipton and Dyer counties. The charges include aggravated assault, evading arrest, reckless endangerment, speeding, and assault on a first responder. Additionally, Young’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking significant damages.
Hopper’s defense attorney, Leslie Ballin, described the case as tragic, expressing regret over the irreversible events. The legal proceedings, including the plea deal, mark a somber chapter in the aftermath of Young’s untimely death.
