Shelby Farms Park murder case: Jackson Hopper rejects plea deal as court resets trial timeline

Key developments in the Shelby Farms Park homicide prosecution

A Shelby County criminal case stemming from the October 2024 killing of 22-year-old Ellie Claire Young at Shelby Farms Park is moving forward on a revised schedule after the defendant rejected a plea offer and the trial timeline was again adjusted in court.

Jackson Hopper, who is charged with first-degree murder, remains in custody without bond. Young was shot in the parking lot near the Shelby Farms Visitor Center on October 19, 2024, during the day of a large breast cancer awareness walk at the park. Investigators have alleged that Hopper, identified as Young’s former boyfriend, drove into the lot and fired multiple shots at Young while she was inside her vehicle and after she exited it.

Trial date changes and plea-decision deadline

The case has seen multiple scheduling changes over the past year. A trial date previously set for February 9, 2026, was later moved to April 13, 2026. On February 9, 2026, the court addressed a potential change-of-plea scenario and granted a short extension, ordering that a decision be finalized by 11:25 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

During the February 9 hearing, the court indicated it had anticipated either a plea resolution or trial proceedings beginning that day. The defense sought additional time, and prosecutors argued that continued delays were unfair to the victim’s family, who were present and prepared for court action.

What the state is seeking

Prosecutors have stated they intend to pursue the most severe available punishment if Hopper is convicted, with public statements in earlier proceedings indicating an effort to secure life without the possibility of parole. In addition, later court reporting has reflected that prosecutors have also referenced capital punishment as a possibility in the case’s trajectory.

Allegations of a multi-county chase and separate charges

Authorities have said the killing was followed by a multi-county pursuit that ended in Dyer County after Hopper’s vehicle crashed. Separate charges tied to that pursuit have been referenced in Tipton and Dyer counties, and those matters are expected to proceed in relation to the Shelby County case’s outcome and scheduling.

Related indictments involving arrest conduct

The case has also produced a separate criminal track focused on law-enforcement conduct during the arrest. In February 2025, a Dyer County grand jury indicted six officers from multiple West Tennessee agencies on charges that include official misconduct, official oppression, assault, and tampering with evidence. In June 2025, a seventh officer—the supervisor identified as having command responsibility at the arrest scene—was also charged with official misconduct.

• Defendant: Jackson Hopper
• Charge: First-degree murder (Shelby County)
• Victim: Ellie Claire Young, 22
• Incident date: October 19, 2024
• Latest plea-decision deadline ordered: February 11, 2026 at 11:25 a.m.

Hopper has pleaded not guilty in the homicide case. The court’s upcoming deadlines will determine whether the matter proceeds toward a trial setting later in 2026 or resolves through a change of plea.