FRANKFORT, Ky. — A parent of a Kentucky State University student has been charged with murder after a shooting on the campus that has resulted in the death of one student and left another critically injured. The alleged shooter, 48-year-old Jacob Lee Bard, reportedly opened fire at the school's Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall.
Authorities confirmed that the shooting occurred on Tuesday, and 19-year-old De’Jon Fox from Indianapolis was fatally shot. The identity of the second student, who remains in critical condition, has not yet been released.
Police arrested Bard, a resident of Evansville, Indiana, at the scene. He is currently facing charges of murder and first-degree assault. His legal representation has declined to comment on the case as the investigation is ongoing.
Surveillance footage and additional videos taken by witnesses are being reviewed by investigators. The police have described the situation as isolated but have not disclosed specific details surrounding the motive behind the shooting.
Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy indicated that further details about the context leading to the incident are still unclear, stating, “It’s really too early in the investigation right now to really give any details that led up to it.”
The recent shooting marks the second violent incident in the vicinity of the student residence in just four months. Earlier in August, gunfire from a vehicle struck two people near the dormitory, prompting an increased police presence on campus.
University President Koffi C. Akakpo reassured the community after the incident, emphasizing the commitment to student safety and stating, “The campus is a safe place.” The university, founded in 1886, is a historically Black institution with approximately 2,200 students and is located about 2 miles east of Kentucky's Capitol.
