Alyssa Lokit Case: Man accused of brutal murder of woman on Nashville railroad tracks makes first court appearance

Paul Park, the man accused of ambushing a complete stranger as she exercised at a popular trail in Nashville, Tennessee and shooting her to death, was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday.

Park, 29, of Brentwood, was arrested less than 24 hours after Vanderbilt graduate Alyssa Lokits, 34, was found dead on the Mill Creek Greenway trail.

Metropolitan Nashville police have not revealed a motive for the killing that has left local residents terrified.

Park was charged with murder in connection with Lokits’ death.

ARREST MADE LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER NASHVILLE WOMAN WAS SHOT TO DEATH WHILE WALKING ON POPULAR TRAIL

Nashville police announced that a suspect had been arrested less than 24 hours after the murder of Alyssa Lokits. (Nashville Metropolitan Police/Vanderbilt University)

According to Williamson County court records obtained by Fox News Digital, Park had a criminal background with two prior offenses.

In 2017, Park was sentenced to probation as part of judicial diversion following a domestic violence arrest.

Subsequently, in 2018, Park was sentenced to 10 days in jail and supervised probation for violating his original probation sentence following his arrest for possession of drugs with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell. One of the three drug charges was ultimately dismissed as part of a plea agreement and Park pleaded guilty to the other two drug charges.

Lokits’ family released a statement to local station WSMV 4, describing her as “a force to be reckoned with.”

“Dr. Alyssa Lokits, Ph.D. was a force to be reckoned with: driven, successful, smart and immensely talented. Her fearless spirit and unwavering love inspired all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was a friend to all “She always offers her generosity, joy and light to those around her,” the family said in a statement.

“Her boundless support for her large family and numerous loved ones was evident in every aspect of her life. She always showed up for those she cared about, bringing strength and love with her wherever she went. The loss of such” One vibrant, compassionate, and remarkable woman is devastating, and she will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all whose lives she touched,” the statement continued.

The family is asking for privacy as they cope and deal with their “unimaginable grief.”

““We are deeply disturbed by the horrific acts of abuse and murder of our beloved daughter, sister, nephew, aunt, niece and friend,” the family said.

UTAH MOTHER SHOT MISSING NATIONAL GUARD HUSBAND IN HIS SLEEP, PROPOSED LOVER ‘TAKE IT TO THE GRAVE’: POLICE

Paul Park was booked into the Davidson County Jail. He is currently being held without bond on suspicion of murder. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department)

The community is also rallying around Lokits’ death and calling on police and the city to implement more safety measures.

Councilor John Rutherford said the area needs more gates, more lighting and more patrols. He added that there is a need for license plate readers (LPRs), which Fox 17 reports must be approved by the mayor, who has withheld funding.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Nashville Police Chief John Drake echoed Rutherford and acknowledged the need for LPRs.

“LPRs would have made a difference. LPRs make us safer,” Drake said.

Drake added that Park and Lokits did not know each other and that this was a random attack in which he attempted to sexually assault her before fatally shooting her.

FORMER VEGAS DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN CONVICTED OF KILLING REPORTER TO BE SENTENCED TO AT LEAST 28 YEARS

Metropolitan Nashville Police announced they have made an arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman while walking in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday evening. (Nashville Metropolitan Police)

Paula Parker, a member of the church where Lokits attended, said she was shocked when she heard the news of Lokits’ murder.

“Alyssa was part of the church we attended. We haven’t seen her in a few years, but we have watched Alyssa grow from a child to a teenager. She was a godly, kind, loving, fun, confident and intelligent young woman with a dream to become a neuroscientist to help others,” Parker wrote in a post on Facebook “I am grateful that police have arrested her killer. Please pray for the Lokits family.”

One of Lokits’ neighbors, Guy Gilchrist, told Fox 17 he was “absolutely devastated and shocked” when he heard about her murder. He added that she worked from home and was always helpful.

“She was just incredibly kind to me and the neighbors loved her,” Gilchrist said.

According to Vanderbilt University, Lokits graduated from the school in 2017. She worked in the Hamm Lab as a graduate student in neuroscience.

Investigators determined that Lokits was exercising near the Greenway trail Monday evening when Park stepped out from between two parked cars and began following her at a “fast pace.”

Some witnesses claimed to have heard a woman shouting, “Help! He’s trying to rape me,” followed by gunfire.

Witnesses also told police they saw a man, possibly Asian, on top of Lokits before shots were fired.

According to police, Lotkits and Park then walked out of view of the park’s surveillance camera. However, video captured Park returning to his gray car with “scratches on his arms and blood on his clothes.”

SECOND SUSPECT ARRESTED IN DEADLY HOME ROBBERY AFTER PHONY UTILITY WORKERS TARGETED WHICH NEIGHBORHOOD

A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman who was killed while hiking on a popular hiking trail in Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday. (X/@MNPDNashville)

Park then fled the parking lot in a dark-colored four-door sedan towards Old Hickory Boulevard, according to the police.

Later that evening, a major break in the case occurred when a local witness provided police with more video footage recorded on the dashcam of his car parked at the Greenway Trailhead.

Police said the dashcam captured clear footage of Park and his car, while another witness was able to provide part of Park’s license plate number.

Police said another major break in the case occurred when MNPD homicide detective Shannon Forsyth viewed the suspect’s photo taken on the witness’s dashcam and recognized the suspect as the identical twin brother from a suicide case she was involved in in December 2021 had worked.

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Detectives set up surveillance at Park’s home in Brentwood, followed him after he left and stopped him in Davidson County after the murder warrant was issued.

“We sincerely appreciate the quick and diligent efforts of the Nashville Police Department, investigators and witnesses/bystanders in their assistance to Alyssa and their arrest of the person responsible. There must be serious consequences for a serious crime, and we will continue to do so. support the authorities in seeking justice for Alyssa to the fullest extent of the law. We would also like to thank the community for their support and compassion during this incredibly difficult time,” said the Lotkits family.