Frankfort, Kentucky
AP
—
A grand jury has declined to indict the father of two Kentucky State University students who was charged with murder in an on-campus shooting that killed one scholar and critically injured one other.
In a social media publish after the Tuesday listening to, protection legal professional Scott Danks stated grand jurors determined not to indict his consumer, Jacob Lee Bard, for the December 9 shooting and he’s out of jail. Bard’s attorneys have stated that 20 to 30 folks had gathered to assault his son and household, and that he was justified in shooting two individuals who had been beating his son.
After the grand jury choice, Kentucky State officers stated they “will cooperate with law enforcement and investigators as appropriate” and are targeted on scholar security and well-being.
Bard’s attorneys say the household was transferring their youthful son out, with two armed campus law enforcement officials current, after withdrawing each sons from college due to “multiple armed, violent” incidents in opposition to them and different college students in the times main up to December 9, some captured on safety cameras.
When the household and an officer reached the dormitory entrance on the move-out day, the group of individuals in masks and hoods rushed out and started violently assaulting the household and others, together with beating the son’s head in opposition to the pavement, the attorneys stated.
In October, the youthful son reported a housebreaking in his dorm room to campus police and obtained threats of violence afterward, the attorneys stated.
Because of continued loss of life threats, the sons at the moment are staying in an undisclosed location, the attorneys added.
“Jacob’s actions were absolutely justified under the law, and were the only measure that prevented his son’s death or serious injury,” the attorneys wrote.
Investigators have stated the shooting was remoted, however they haven’t publicly shared particulars of the circumstances or a potential motive. The shooting killed 19-year-old De’Jon Fox of Indianapolis.
In a message to the campus group, Kentucky State stated the grand jury choice “does not lessen the pain our community continues to feel, nor does it change our priorities.”
“Our commitment remains centered on supporting our students and ensuring Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live, and work,” it stated.
The shooting was the second in 4 months close to the residence corridor. Someone fired a number of pictures from a car on August 17, putting two individuals who the college stated weren’t college students. Frankfort police stated one sufferer was handled for minor accidents and the second sustained severe accidents. The dorm and at least one car had been broken by gunfire.
Police have stated Bard, 48, is from Evansville, Indiana, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Frankfort. He had additionally been charged with first-degree assault.
Kentucky State is a public traditionally Black college with about 2,200 college students. Lawmakers licensed the college’s creation in 1886.