Woman, 18, dies after reportedly being shot by man accused of another shooting but released for being mentally incompetent

An 18-year-old woman from New Jersey was shot and killed in Tennessee. The suspect had previously been arrested for a previous shooting but was released for being mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Jillian Ludwig, 18, was shot while walking on a track at Edgehill Memorial Gardens Park in Nashville.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a press release that Shaquille Taylor, 29, was "standing on 13th Ct when he opened fire on a car traveling on 13th Ct toward Deford Bailey Avenue at 2:24 p.m. Tuesday."

A bullet hit Ludwig in the head, causing her to "immediately collapse." The Belmont University freshman wasn't found until about 3:30 p.m. by a passerby who notified police.

Ludwig was rushed to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition.

On Thursday morning, the Metropolitan Police Department said the college student had died "during the night."

Belmont University President Greg Jones described Ludwig as a music business major, avid runner, and bass player who "is often found at concerts, cheering on fellow musicians and using music as a way to connect with those around her."

Ludwig — of Belmar, New Jersey — had been performing in a band and doing solo music performances before her sudden death.

Taylor was caught on surveillance camera footage, and witnesses provided a description of the shooting suspect.

Taylor was arrested shortly before 10 p.m. on Tuesday by detectives with the Homicide Unit and Specialized Investigations Division.

Police said Taylor admitted to detectives that he fired multiple gunshots. He allegedly told investigators that he gave the gun to another person.

Taylor was jailed and held on $280,000 bond.

At the time of his arrest, Taylor was charged with aggravated assault and evidence tampering. However, police announced on Thursday that they are working with the District Attorney's Office to modify the charges against Taylor.

Taylor had been criminally charged multiple times in the past.

At the time of Ludwig’s shooting, Taylor had a warrant for failing to appear in court in relation to an alleged carjacking on Sept. 16. Taylor is accused of carjacking an F-150 pickup truck along with another suspect.

Taylor was also accused of shooting at a mother and her two children in 2021.

Taylor and another man were accused of shooting at a female driver while her children were in the back seat of the vehicle that was hit with two bullets. Taylor was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon. However, a judge released Taylor after court-appointed doctors testified that he was incompetent to stand trial.

Under federal and state law, mentally incompetent defendants are prohibited from being prosecuted.

Court documents said that Taylor developed pneumonia at birth, which led to a brain infection. He reportedly functions only at a kindergarten level.

Criminal Court Judge Angelita Blackshear Dalton ruled that Taylor did not meet the criteria to be involuntarily committed to a mental institution and that the court had "reached the limit of its authority."

On Wednesday, Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk said he wants the Tennessee legislature to make it easier to commit someone to a mental institution.

Funk criticized Tennessee laws that make it a "nearly impossible standard" to have someone involuntarily committed to a mental institution.

The Associated Press reported, "State law requires at least two doctors to certify that the person is suffering from a severe mental illness or developmental disability that causes that person to be at a substantial risk of serious harm to himself or others. The doctors must also find that there are no less restrictive measures that could be taken."

Funk said in a statement, "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."

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Democrat, said there need to be more beds "for individuals experiencing mental health crises and a renewed conversation about how we limit access to firearms for individuals we know are a threat to the community."

N.J. college student dies after being shot in Nashvillewww.youtube.com

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!