18-year-old girl killed in Nashville after being shot in the head by bullet allegedly fired by career criminal

Jillian Ludwig, originally from New Jersey, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, two days after being shot. The suspect, 29-year-old Shaquille Taylor, was arrested and subsequently booked on aggravated assault and witness tampering, though upgraded charges are being explored.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the incident took place Tuesday afternoon at the Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park just blocks away from Belmont University, the private Christian college Ludwig attended.

While the freshman walked along a path in the park, gunfire erupted from a public housing complex across the street. She was struck in the head by one of the bullets, which had been intended for a car on the road behind her, and collapsed.

It took nearly an hour before someone finally noticed Ludwig on the ground, at which point she was rushed to Vanderbilt Medical Centre in "extremely critical condition."

She passed away less than 48 hours later.

Taylor's charges were bound over to the Davidson County Grand Jury, however "anticipated modified charges" are expected to be announced by the panel. He is currently being held in a local jail on $280,000 bond.

As the New York Post reports, Taylor has a criminal history including charges related to previous shootings, however, authorities released him from custody earlier this year after he was deemed to be too incompetent to stand trial.

In 2021, for example, he was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon after shooting at a female driver while her children sat in the back seat.

Following Ludwig's death, thoughts and prayers were shared by many, including Belmont University president Gregory Jones.

"On days like this one, let us lean into this love as we do our best as a community to care for and support one another," he said. "Please join me in praying for Jillian's family, friends, and loved ones."

"My prayers, our prayers are all for Jillian and her family right now," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell added, noting that, "she, like so many, had come to Belmont for its incredible music business program."