ARTICLE UPDATE – 12/11/25:
The student killed in Tuesday’s shooting at Kentucky State University has been identified, and officials say the suspect is the parent of a student at the school.
The deceased victim was identified on Wednesday as 19-year-old De’Jon Fox. The other injured student, whose name has not been released, was scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday afternoon, university president Koffi Akakpo said in a news conference.
Police said Wednesday that the suspect, 48-year-old Jacob Bard, is a parent of an unnamed KSU student. He was involved in a physical altercation on campus when he produced a handgun and shot the two students. Scott Tracy, assistant chief of the Frankfort Police Department, said the shooting occurred in front of KSU police officers.
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When asked by reporters if a fight involving Bard’s son preceded the incident or whether Bard might have come to campus to speak with administrators about his son’s safety, Tracy declined to say what may have led to the shooting, CNN reports.
Police declined to comment when asked if Bard had reported any prior safety concerns to campus officials or had meeting’s about his son’s safety, LEX 18 reports.
“It’s really too early in the investigation right now to really give any details that led up to it,” he said. “A lot of it would be speculation.”
Bard is set to be arraigned Thursday in Franklin District Court on charges of murder and assault.
Tuesday’s shooting was the second in four months near the Whitney M. Young Jr. residence hall. Someone fired multiple shots from a vehicle on Aug. 17, striking to non-university students.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE – 12/10/25:
FRANKFORT, Ky. — One student is dead and another is in critical condition after a shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday.
The shooting took place around 3:10 p.m. outside the Whitney M. Young Jr. residence hall, CNN reports. The suspect, 48-year-old Jacob Bard, is not a student at the school. According to his arrest citation, Bard was “involved in a physical altercation” on campus when he “produced a handgun and shot two other individuals.” The school was placed in lockdown.
In a press conference Tuesday evening, Frankfort Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracey said campus police officers responded to the shooting and arrested the suspect moments after the first gunfire. Frankfort police also arrived within four minutes of the first 911 call, he said. No officers fired their weapons.
Bard was booked into Franklin County Regional Jail and has been charged with murder and first-degree assault. He is set to appear in court for an arraignment hearing Thursday morning.
The names of the victims have not been released. One died at the hospital, and the other remains in critical but stable condition.
Kentucky State University Shooting Was Not Active Shooter Situation
University spokesperson Michael DeCourcy said the shooting, which happened during finals week, was not a random active shooter situation.
“This was not a mass shooting or a random incident based on what I’ve been told, and the suspected shooter is already in custody,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a video message. “That means that while this was scary, there is no ongoing threat and I believe our families are safe.”
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All classes, final exams, and campus activities have been suspended for the rest of the week.
“Students may return home if they choose,” the school said in a statement. “Additional guidance will be communicated as soon as possible.”
Counselling and support services are being offered to students, faculty, and staff affected by the shooting, the university’s website says.
