Murder Charges Filed Following Deadly Shooting at Kentucky State University

Thu Dec 11 2025 03:36:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A tragic shooting incident on the campus of Kentucky State University has left one student dead and another critically injured. The alleged shooter, a parent of a student, faces murder charges.

A parent of a Kentucky State University student has been charged with murder following a shooting incident on the campus that resulted in the death of a 19-year-old student, De’Jon Fox, and left another student critically injured. The shooting was isolated according to authorities, who are still investigating the motives behind the incident. Surveillance footage is being examined as part of the investigation.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A parent of a Kentucky State University student, Jacob Lee Bard, is facing murder charges following a shooting on campus that claimed the life of a 19-year-old student and critically injured another.

The incident occurred at Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall when Bard allegedly fired shots at the victims, leaving De’Jon Fox from Indianapolis dead, while the condition of the second student remains critical. Bard, aged 48 and originally from Evansville, Indiana, has been taken into custody and is represented by a public defender.

Despite the tragic nature of the event, police have described the shooting as isolated but have not disclosed details regarding the motives or circumstances leading up to the incident. Authorities emphasized that they are reviewing video footage from the scene to gather further information.

At a media briefing, Frankfort Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy stressed the importance of withholding speculation about the incident, noting that it is still early in the investigation. A lot of it would be speculation,” he stated.

This shooting marks the second violent incident near the student housing area within a few months, following another shooting in August that injured two individuals, not affiliated with the university.

Kentucky State University President Koffi C. Akakpo responded to the situation by assuring the community of the campus's safety. He mentioned additional measures being evaluated to enhance security following the recent incidents.

As a historic Black university established in 1886, Kentucky State University has a current enrollment of approximately 2,200 students and is located about two miles east of the Capitol building in Frankfort.