NASHVILLE, Tenn. — An LSU medical student was attacked and shot and is recovering in the hospital in her hometown of Nashville Monday night, according to the Nashville Police Department.
The 26-year-old victim, whose name was not given, was apparently walking on Eastwood Drive in Nashville Monday night when two males of undetermined age got out of a dark Dodge Avenger sedan that had the passenger window covered and attacked her.
Police say, in a post on Nashville.gov, that the victim fought back and screamed and that as the assailants fled, they fired and struck her before taking off.
The police post described the attack as “random.”
The victim was said to be getting ready to return to LSU Medical School for her final months there.
LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine released a statement:
"LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine was horrified to learn about the attack on one of our students in Nashville. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with her and her family during this difficult time. She is in her final year of study, and we are working with her and her family to ensure that she can graduate on time."
Donors posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those involved in the attack.
Anyone with information on the persons responsible for this crime is asked to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
The victim’s family today provided the following statement to Nashville Police to share with the community:
"We’d like to thank our friends, family, neighbors and the entire Nashville community for the outpouring of support after the brutal attack and shooting of our daughter in her own neighborhood. The generosity and caring of the Nashville community is something special to behold. We also want to thank the Metro Nashville Police Department, the emergency first responders and the medical team at Vanderbilt Hospital without whose heroic efforts our daughter may not have survived.
We are deeply saddened and angered by this senseless attack on our daughter and our community. Our daughter is an intelligent, caring and thoughtful young woman. She has dreamed of becoming a doctor since she was very young, and is currently in her last few months of medical school at LSU before graduating and starting her residency in pediatrics. She is an honor roll graduate of The Harpeth Hall School, a cum laude graduate from Fordham University in New York, and is looking forward to a medical career helping children where she plans to specialize in pediatric infectious disease.
While our daughter’s injuries will take time to heal, this vicious attack will not stop her. Many of you have seen the video of her attack which sickens us, but you see her fighting spirt, and she will go on to share her love of medicine and love of helping children with the world. We sincerely hope her attackers are caught and brought to justice, and we again thank everyone for their support".
