CRIME

Tennessee Cops Face Heat After Beating Man Accused of Killing Med Student

Memphis, USASat Oct 26 2024
A troubling video has surfaced online, showing Tennessee cops beating up a man suspected of killing a medical student. The man, identified as Jackson Hopper, 24, is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend, Ellie Claire Young, 22, at a charity walk in Memphis. After a high-speed chase, officers flipped Hopper's car and then punched him for about 30 seconds, as captured on a bystander's cell phone. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. The tragedy began when Hopper allegedly found Young in her parked Jeep near the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. He shot her twice and then finished her off execution-style after she fell from the vehicle. Witnesses say Hopper tried to hit an officer with his car while fleeing, and a gun was found in his vehicle. Young's family is devastated. "Ellie was just a light in this world, " her brother-in-law Zachary Harris said. Young was a medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Hopper, initially described as a nice, non-violent guy, is baffling those who knew him. "I can’t defend him, but people online are saying he was this violent person, and that’s not true at all, " a close friend said.

questions

    Why did the ex-boyfriend choose a charity walk to execute his plan? Was it because he knew there would be plenty of witnesses?
    How does the police department plan to address the allegations of excessive force during the arrest?
    How can law enforcement better balance the need for swift justice with the prevention of excessive force during arrests?

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