State of Tennessee v. Shaquille Taylor

Nashville, Tennessee criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with second-degree murder.

Digested by: Kent Morlan

Shaquille Taylor, age 32, was accused of gunning down an 18-year-old Belmont University freshman in 2023.

The case has drawn widespread attention, largely due to ongoing questions about Taylor’s mental capacity. Taylor had a history of criminal activity, but when deemed ‘incompetent to stand trial” by medical professionals during previous evaluations, the District Attorney’s office was forbidden from prosecuting, and Taylor was released. Noting this loophole in the criminal justice system, along with the violent nature of many offenders who are deemed mentally ‘incompetent to stand trial’, Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk predicted a tragedy could easily happen. Jillian was shot and killed just 12 days later.

Her death prompted DA Funk, along with Jillian’s family, and Tennessee State Legislators like Representative William Lamberth and Senator Cameron Sexton, to craft Jillian’s Law. The law requires certain defendants found incompetent to stand trial be committed for treatment, rather than just released. It also prohibits those individuals from possessing a firearm. The Ludwig’s now plan on helping other states draft similar legislation and have set up a non-profit called ‘Rae of Light Foundation’ to assist in that effort. The foundation also provides scholarships to budding musicians, as Jillian was a talented singer and musician who came to Nashville’s Belmont University to continue her musical career.

The Defendant pled guilty and was sentenced to 38 years in prions, whithoutthe charnge of parole.