Wall College Student Dies After Being Shot In Nashville

WALL, NJ — Jillian Ludwig, the Wall teen who was shot by a stray bullet in a park near her college in Nashville, has died of her injuries, Nashville police confirmed Thursday.

The shooting left the Wall community and her church community grieving, first on Wednesday when she was being treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and then Thursday with the news of her death.

A prayer service for her was Thursday night at the Church in Brielle, 821 Riverview Drive, where she was in the choir.

Ludwig, 18, was shot by a stray bullet from a nearby shooting while walking on the track in Edgehill Community Memorial Gardens Park Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Shaquille Taylor, 29, was charged Wednesday with aggravated assault and evidence tampering in the shooting. Nashville police said Thursday that those charges are now before a grand jury in Nashville and that any modified charges would come from the grand jury over the next few weeks.

Taylor is accused of shooting at a car from public housing across the street from the park, with a stray bullet hitting Ludwig in the head, police said. Taylor has remained in custody.

According to Nashville police, Taylor was charged with felony auto theft after he was found with a stolen truck Sept. 21, and was then released on a $20,000 bond. He failed to appear in court on that charge last Friday. A failure to appear warrant was issued by the court in Nashville, according to the police information.

Meanwhile, in Ludwig's home community, the Church in Brielle invited the public to the service to "honor Jillian and celebrate her life. We will support one another who are grieving in our community," the church said on its Facebook site.

The service was led by Pastor Lou and grief counselors and other pastors were to be available throughout the evening. A candlelight procession was to take place outside to "shine our light in the darkness."

Wall Board of Education President Christine Steitz said the board joins the community in grieving Jillian's loss "with profound sadness."

"Jillian will remain in our hearts as she lived - vibrant, loving, musically gifted, adventurous, loyal and kind. She was often a fixture at school and local gatherings, sharing her gift of song, elevating special events with her musicianship and spirit of fellowship. We offer her family our heartfelt condolences and share the burden of sorrow felt by so many members of our community," Steitz said.

The Wall community came out Wednesday night to "pray for a miracle" at a vigil for Ludwig, a 2023 graduate of Wall High School and a beloved member of the community.

Steitz also told the community that the district offers resources to help those struggling with the loss of the young musician who hoped to continue her career with her studies at Belmont University in Nashville. You can find online resources in a letter from the district.

"We mourn the future she deserved and celebrate the magic and gifts she shared with so many people," Steitz said.