In brief
A Kentucky State University parent, Jacob Lee Bard, has been charged with murder following a shooting on campus that left one student dead and another critically injured. The victims were shot in a residence hall, and police have stated that the shooting was isolated. Investigators are exploring potential motives while the community mourns the loss and demands increased security measures.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A parent of a Kentucky State University student has been charged with murder in an on-campus shooting that killed one student and critically injured another.
The incident occurred on Tuesday at a residence hall when Jacob Lee Bard, 48, allegedly opened fire on De’Jon Fox, 19, of Indianapolis, who was killed, and another student whose name remains undisclosed and is currently in critical condition.
Witnesses reported the shooting, but details regarding its motives and circumstances are still under investigation by law enforcement. Frankfort Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy acknowledged there were videos of a fight preceding the shooting but withheld further information.
Bard, from Evansville, Indiana, was arrested shortly after the shooting took place, with law enforcement stating that university police were nearby. He is currently represented by a public defender, who opted not to comment on the ongoing case.
This tragic incident marks the second shooting around the university's student residence in a span of four months, raising concerns about student safety. Following a previous shooting that injured two people outside the campus, university officials are evaluating security measures. University President Koffi C. Akakpo reassured the community that the campus remains a safe environment, committing to additional police presence and forthcoming assessments of security protocols.
Kentucky State University, established in 1886 as a public historically Black institution, has a student body of about 2,200, and is located roughly two miles east of Frankfort’s Capitol building.