FRANKFORT, Ky. (PulseWire) — A parent of a Kentucky State University student has been charged with murder in an on-campus shooting that resulted in the death of one student and left another in critical condition.
The incident unfolded on Tuesday at Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall where Jacob Lee Bard allegedly fired shots that struck two students. The deceased victim has been identified as 19-year-old De’Jon Fox from Indianapolis. The identity of the second student remains undisclosed, but he is reported to be in critical condition.
Bard, 48, from Evansville, Indiana, was arrested on-site and charged with murder and first-degree assault. He is currently represented by a public defender, and details surrounding the shooting's circumstances, including a potential motive, remain unclear as the investigation continues.
According to police, the shooting is considered an isolated incident, and there were reports of prior altercations involving Bard's sons that may have preceded the violence, although this has not yet been confirmed. Frankfort Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy emphasized that it is too early in the investigation to speculate on the motivation behind the shooting.
This significant event marks the second shooting incident in just four months near student residence areas at the university. In August, multiple shots were fired from a vehicle, injuring two non-students.
University President Koffi C. Akakpo has reassured the campus community, stating that Kentucky State University is a safe place, and that additional security measures are being evaluated in response to these incidents.
