Crime
17-year-old Taylor Ratterree shot and killed while trying to jump out of moving car in Dickson County
A 17-year-old girl was fatally shot Tuesday night in Dickson County, Tennessee, after attempting to escape from a vehicle driven by her former boyfriend, according to law enforcement authorities.
The victim, identified as Taylor Ratterree, had just completed her work shift around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16.
Taylor had recently ended her relationship with Hunter Jackson, 18, though the circumstances that led to the two being together later that evening remain under investigation.
Authorities say Jackson picked Taylor up from the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store in Dickson. While details of what transpired inside the vehicle have not been fully released, investigators believe a confrontation occurred during the drive.
As the vehicle approached a traffic signal on Henslee Drive, Taylor reportedly feared for her safety and attempted to exit the moving car from the passenger side.
During that attempt, police say Jackson fired a gun, striking her. Jackson then fled the scene, leaving Taylor critically injured on the roadway.
Officers with the Dickson Police Department were initially dispatched following reports of a reckless driver.
Upon arrival, they discovered Taylor lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound. She was transported to Skyline Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.
Following an overnight search, law enforcement located Jackson at a residence in White Bluff, Tennessee, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Wednesday. He was taken into custody without incident.
Hunter Jackson has been charged with first-degree homicide and was booked into the Dickson County Jail. He is currently being held on a $3 million bond, according to jail records.
Family members and friends described Taylor as a kind, vibrant young woman with a bright future ahead of her.
She was known for her creativity and loved crocheting, often selling handmade bumblebee creations at her workplace.
Those close to her said she was enthusiastic about beginning college and had ambitious plans for her life.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the motive or the events leading up to the shooting.
The Dickson community has expressed an outpouring of grief and support for Taylor’s family as they mourn the loss of a young life taken far too soon.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.