Parents of an 18-year-old young man Student at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Who was killed by a stray bullet in the head in 2023, is suing several people and entities after their daughter was left to die on the sidewalk for nearly an hour.
The wrongful death lawsuit filed in Davidson County says Jillian Ludwig, 18, “was He was killed in a shooting “This was made possible by multiple negligent and reckless acts committed by the defendants here in Davidson County, Tennessee.”
Those charged include the City of Nashville, Tennessee, the Metro Nashville Development and Housing Agency (MDHA), Belmont University, and state or city employees who examined the mental health of shooting suspect Shaquille Latrell Taylor, a gun supplier who sold a firearm to Taylor. And others.
Ludwig was “considered by many music professionals to be an emerging star” at the time of her death, the lawsuit said. She played six instruments, was a member of three bands and performed at well-known Nashville venues.
Jillian Ludwig, 18, was hit by a stray bullet while jogging in Nashville, Tennessee. (family bulletin)
“Jillian loved her family and friends and was a bright, talented young woman with a bright future ahead of her,” the suit says.
The lawsuit goes on to detail a series of alleged failures that led Taylor, who had previously been deemed incompetent to stand trial in a separate criminal case before Ludwig’s death, to illegally possess a firearm that he discharged in the area where the 18-year-old defendant was. -old was running on November 7, 2023.
Tennessee college student, 18, killed in nashville park by shooter with prior arrests: cops
Jessica Thorne-Ludwig, right, said she didn’t want “any other parents to go through this nightmare that we’re going through.” (family bulletin)
On that day, Ludwig was jogging on a track at Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park, northeast of Belmont’s campus, between classes at about 2:20 p.m., when she was struck by a gunshot allegedly aimed at another target, Nashville Police Department He said at the time.
Nashville police have arrested repeat offender Taylor, 29, in connection with the shooting that left Ludwig initially hospitalized in critical condition before she was pronounced dead on Nov. 8.
In March, a grand jury indicted Taylor, who had a lengthy criminal history, on multiple charges, including First degree murderfelony possession of weapons with criminal intent, five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment.
Shaquille Taylor has been charged with multiple counts in connection with the death of Jillian Ludwig. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)
The suspect was previously accused of shooting a Nashville teen in the chest and shooting a pregnant Nashville woman while she was with her two children. The complaint indicates that her injuries led to her miscarriage.
Taylor “recklessly discharged a .40-caliber firearm” in the area of Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park while Ludwig was jogging, striking the 18-year-old musician in the head.
WATCH: Video shows a driver hitting a Nashville police car during a traffic stop
“Jillian was bleeding at this location… in plain sight, in broad daylight, for more than an hour before police found her and provided medical care,” the complaint states.
A criminal affidavit states that Shaquille Taylor was targeting a target named “Lil’ Greg,” who was driving in the area when the suspect fired shots in his direction, as Jillian Ludwig was walking at the same time. (family bulletin)
Ludwig’s father, Matthew Ludwig, previously told Fox News Digital that the shooting was “completely preventable.”
“And the existing laws have failed,” he said in November 2023.
“They protect criminals, not innocent victims.”
The lawsuit says Belmont University knew or should have known to alert students that the area Ludwig was managing was unsafe, issuing “other security warnings…to students in other, less dangerous areas.”
Belmont University said there was little the school could say regarding the pending lawsuit, but the university said in a statement that its “entire campus shares in the ongoing grief of Jillian’s death,” and the community was and continues to be “deeply committed to the safety” of its students.
Gillian Ludwig’s family says laws need to change so repeat offenders deemed incompetent to stand trial are not immediately released from custody. (family bulletin)
The complaint also alleges that MDHA of Nashville, which owns the apartment complex where Taylor, a felon, allegedly fired his illegally possessed weapon, had a duty to “ensure that Taylor did not use a gun” on its property and fire in the park. Where Ludwig was was running.
The Metro Housing Agency said it could not comment on pending litigation, and the Nashville Law Department, which handles legal requests related to Nashville government, said it would have no comment on the case until the case is resolved.
The lawsuit also names Jenny Mathai, Dr. Michael Loftin, and Dr. Mary Jane Wood, of Tennessee, as defendants, alleging that the three medical experts had “conflicting assessments” that determined Taylor was too incompetent to stand trial but not substantially incompetent. He was eligible for involuntary detention due to prior crimes prior to the shooting that killed Ludwig.
Gillian Ludwig’s parents said that although she always did well in school, she was very passionate about playing and studying music. (family bulletin)
Therefore, Taylor was allowed “free from criminal prosecution and involuntary confinement, creating a significant risk of bodily harm to Jillian,” the complaint says.
An onlooker says the suburban jogging murder suspect smiled at her moments after the killing
“The defendants said they also knew while Taylor was in their custody and control that he had a specific history of violence and armed violence. Further, the defendants said they knew or should have known in the exercise of sound professional judgment that Taylor was likely to harm others If he is released,” the lawsuit says of Mathai, Loftin and Wood.
The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging did not respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital.
Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones addressed Jillian Ludwig’s death in an email to students and staff. (Instagram)
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said his “heart still aches for Jillian Ludwig, her family and the entire Belmont community,” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“In the past year, we have collectively mourned this senseless gun violence,” O’Connell said. “I continue to be inspired by the incredible strength of the Belmont community as they collectively grieve Jillian’s death, and I hope the Ludwig family feels our support.” “We continue to search for effective solutions to reduce gun violence in our community.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Lawyers for the Ludwig family had not commented on the case at the time of publication out of respect for the family.
Matthew Ludwig previously told Fox News Digital in 2023 that until laws change, “this could happen to anyone.” And in April 2023, the Ludwigs succeeded in doing just that by passing Gillian’s Law, which requires dependents deemed incompetent to stand trial to be housed in an appropriate mental health facility.
The law also requires dependents who are determined to be incompetent to stand trial to be entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System so they cannot purchase firearms.
https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/11/inset-over-split-1.jpg
Source link