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Belmont Student Dies Following Shooting Less than a Mile from Campus


DeFord Bailey Avenue, formerly known as Horton Avenue, in relation to Belmont, Google Maps

The following is an update as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

Jillian Ludwig, an 18-year-old Belmont music business major, died Wednesday night after a bullet struck her in the head near 14th and DeFord Bailey avenues while walking on the track at Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park late Tuesday afternoon, according to Metro Nashville Police Department.

Ludwig was found an hour after she was shot, according to the police report.

Shaquille Taylor, 29, has been arrested and “admitted to firing shots at a car and identified himself as the suspect from a still photograph obtained from the MDHA footage,” said the police report.

His bail has been set at $280,000.

A prayer service was held at the Bell Tower. There will be additional support available from University Ministries and Counseling Services in Gabhart A and B after the service.

Two other shootings have occurred this year in Edgehill in May and June.

This investigation is ongoing. Updates will be made to this article as they are made available.


The following is an update as of 2:00 p.m. Wednesday.


A press release from Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk provided an outline of Taylor’s history.

Taylor was charged with aggravated assault in April.


He was released in May and the case was dropped because Taylor was “incompetent to stand trial,” according to a statement from Funk.

“Based on the expert testimony of Dr. Matthai, Dr. Loftin, and Dr. Wood, the Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Taylor, who is charged with three felonies in the instant case, is incompetent to stand trial, cannot be restored in the foreseeable future,” according to court records.


Funk in his announcement discussed working with the state legislature to improve public safety in these cases.


"The law must be altered to accurately balance individual needs with public safety. At the same time Tennessee must provide more beds and staffing resources to handle dangerous individuals," said Funk's statement.


"I will continue to work with the Legislature on these serious mental health issues."


Taylor also failed to appear in court Friday for auto theft which brought about a warrant for his arrest.


The following is an update as of 4:35 p.m. Wednesday.


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The following is an update as of 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.


Taylor had been noted as having mental development issues his entire life, as a result of early childhood illness.


Tondalayia Cox, Taylor's mother noted that it was a result of early pneumonia that was onset from birth.


Taylor's mother said that he "still functioned on a kindergarten education," according to court records.


The following is an update as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday.


The police are in communication with the district attorney to modify charges against Taylor.


The following is an update as of 11:30 a.m. Thursday.


President Greg Jones said the university is in mourning.


"We grapple now with grief, anger, anxiety and a strong sense of fear in the face of senseless violence," he said.


The university will be continuing to provide additional campus resources for those that may need them.


There are also plans to talk with Metro officials and Campus Security to improve safety measures in the nearby area and on campus.


There are plans for a service to celebrate Ludwig's life, which will be announced at a later date.


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This article was written by Braden Simmons and Tessa Pendleton

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