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A grand jury has declined to indict the father of two Kentucky State University students who were charged with murder in a campus shooting that left one student dead and another seriously injured.
In a social media post after Tuesday’s hearing, defense attorney Scott Danks said grand jurors decided not to indict his client, Jacob Lee Bard, in the Dec. 9 shooting and he is out of jail. Bard’s lawyers have said that 20 to 30 people had gathered to attack his son and family, and that he was justified in shooting the two men who were beating his son.
Following the grand jury’s decision, Kentucky state officials said they would “cooperate as appropriate with law enforcement and investigators” and focus on student safety and well-being.
Bard’s attorneys say that after both sons were expelled from school by Dec. 9 due to “multiple armed, violent” incidents against him and other students, the family was taking their younger son out with two armed campus police officers, some of which were captured on security cameras.
When the family and an officer arrived at the entrance to the dorm, a group of men wearing masks and hoods came out and began violently attacking the family and others, including hitting the son’s head on the sidewalk, lawyers said.
In October, the younger son reported a burglary in his dorm room to campus police and then received threats of violence, attorneys said.
Lawyers said the son is now living at an undisclosed location due to constant death threats.
“Jacob’s actions were absolutely justified under the law and were the only measures that would have prevented his son’s death or serious injury,” the lawyers wrote.
Investigators have said the shooting was isolated, but have not publicly shared details of the circumstances or a possible motive. 19-year-old De’John Fox died in the shooting indianapolis,
In a message to the campus community, Kentucky State said the grand jury’s decision “does not diminish the pain being felt by our community, nor does it change our priorities.”
It says, “Our commitment is focused on supporting our students and ensuring that Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live and work.”
This was the second shooting near a residence hall in four months. On August 17, someone fired multiple shots from a vehicle, killing two people, who the university said were not students. Frankfurt police said one victim suffered minor injuries and the other was treated for serious injuries. A hostel and at least one vehicle were damaged in the firing.
Police said Bard, 48, is from Evansville, Indiana, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) west of Frankfort.
Kentucky State is a historically black university with approximately 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized construction of the school in 1886.