NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Tuesday, Metro Council unanimously passed a resolution honoring the life of a woman who was murdered on an Antioch greenway earlier this year.
The resolution honors runner Alyssa Lokits, who was fatally attacked on the Mill Creek Greenway in October. Its passage comes after runners around the world honored Lokits by finishing the run she never got to complete. During a discussion at Tuesday's meeting, District 33 councilmember Antoinette Lee called Lokits a "miraculous young person."
"She had a zest for life that was infectious," Lee said. "She was a wonderful contribution to our community...This tragedy has put a focus, has put a light, not on just her great contributions to society and to our community, but it has also put a light on the need for safety measures in our different parks and greenways."
District 31 Councilmember, John Rutherford, also spoke on the resolution and called the loss of Lokits a tragedy.
"I'll never forget, personally, the phone call I received from MNPD [Metro Nashville Police Department] alerting me to her murder," Rutherford said. "I can't imagine the call received by her family and loved ones alerting them that her life had been taken. I didn't know her, but I understand she was well-accomplished and had so much more still to do in her young life."
Lokits was called "an inspiration to all who knew her, a champion for the less fortunate" and a lifelong learner in the resolution. Rutherford added that action would honor her life in addition to the resolution.
"When it comes to public safety, we are not keeping pace," Rutherford added. "Our parks and greenway system are awesome, but need to be made safer. The Mill Creek Greenway in particular needs lighting, cameras, a gate and more MNPD and park police presence...In her memory, let us do what is necessary to make our city safer and prevent future tragedies."
Lee affirmed Rutherford's point, stressing the need for Council to take action.
The resolution acknowledged the attendance of hundreds of runners at a late October memorial run. It also noted Lokits' accomplishments as a worker in IT and cybersecurity and celebrated her working with the Mary Parrish Center. The Mary Parrish Center provides comprehensive services to survivors of interpersonal and domestic violence.
The executive director of the Mary Parrish Center, Mary Katherine Rand, and the incoming president, Mary Littleton, were in attendance. Metro Council recognized them as they stood.