Following a shooting that left one Kentucky State University (KSU) student killed and another critically injured, authorities have identified the alleged shooter as a parent of two other students. He has since been charged with murder.
As reported by ABC News, Jacob Lee Bard, 48, from Evansville, Indiana, is accused of opening fire inside the KSU campus on Tuesday, December 9. As a result, one student, identified as De’Jon Darrell Fox Jr., 19, succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the Frankfort Regional Medical Center. Another injured student, unnamed, remains in intensive care.
Following his arrest, Bard, who is the father of two other KSU students, was charged with murder and first-degree assault. He entered a not guilty plea during a court appearance on Thursday, December 11, and was ordered to be held on a $1 million full cash bond at the Franklin County Regional Jail.
A press release issued by the Frankfort Police Department detailed that the incident occurred at around 3:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Immediately, the campus was placed on lockdown. Minutes later, officers arrived at the scene and found that a suspect, Bard, was already in custody, thanks to KSU Campus Police officers.
Allegedly, an altercation began in the Young Hall area of the campus. At one point, Bard pulled out a handgun and shot the aforementioned students, police said. As per the Louisville Courier-Journal, it is unclear why Bard was on the campus at the time.
Authorities believe that the shooting was an isolated incident and that there are no “active safety concerns” on the KSU campus. KSU, meanwhile, announced that classes, final exams, and all activities were canceled for the rest of the week.
In an interview with WRTV, Fox’s family remembered the 19-year-old sophomore as a loving teen who enjoyed making others laugh. They have been left devastated by Fox’s death, with his mother, April Terrance, saying that no one expects something of this nature to happen when sending their children to school.
A GoFundMe was launched to help support Fox’s family cover the 19-year-old’s funeral expenses. Currently, it has raised more than $2,200 out of its $3,500 goal.
As per WRTV, footage of the altercation has been shared online, showing a fight between two parties. Police confirmed its veracity and added that it is part of their investigation. The clip has reportedly been reviewed by Fox’s family.
The Frankfort Police Department and the Franklin County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate the Kentucky State University incident.
