Alyssa Lokits Obituary, Death: Tragic Shooting of a Beloved Member of the Community
Alyssa Lokits, a 34-year-old woman, was fatally shot on Monday, October 14, while exercising on a popular hiking trail in Nashville, Tennessee. The incident occurred on the Mill Creek Greenway trail, and police believe Lokits was targeted while she was out for a routine exercise session.
The suspect, 29-year-old Paul Park, was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 15, after police tracked him down based on witness accounts and evidence gathered from the scene. According to police, Lokits was walking or jogging along the Mill Creek Greenway trail when Park allegedly appeared from behind two parked vehicles and began following her at a quick pace.
Investigators said in a press release that surveillance cameras captured the initial encounter between Lokits and Park, but they eventually moved out of the camera’s view. Shortly after, witnesses in the area reportedly heard Lokits scream for help, shouting, “Help! He’s trying to rape me,” followed by the sound of gunshots.
According to police, Park was later seen emerging from the wooded area with blood on his clothes and visible scratches on his arms. Witnesses also observed Park getting into a BMW sedan, which was later identified as his vehicle.
Chief John Drake stated during the press conference that investigators believe Park abducted Lokits and dragged her into an overgrown area near the trail where he attempted to sexually assault her. Lokits’ body was later discovered in this same area. Authorities believe she was shot during the altercation.
Police received a crucial piece of evidence from a local resident whose dashcam captured footage of Park’s BMW at the Greenway trailhead. This footage, along with a partial license plate number provided by another witness, enabled law enforcement to track down Park and arrest him on Tuesday.
Lokits, a 2017 graduate of Vanderbilt University where she studied neuroscience, was remembered by friends and neighbors as a kind and compassionate person. Her friend, Daniel Frazie, expressed the deep sense of loss felt by those who knew her, describing the tragedy as “horrible.”
Another neighbor, Guy Gilchrist, told FOX 17 that Lokits was loved by those around her, adding, “She was just incredibly kind to me, and the neighbors adored her.” The local running community, deeply affected by the tragedy, is coming together to honor Lokits.
Fleet Feet Nashville, a group that supports and trains local
