Grand Jury Declines to Indict Parent in Kentucky State University Shooting

A grand jury declined to indict a man who had been charged with murder in the Dec. 9 shooting of a student at Kentucky State University, the Franklin County commonwealth’s attorney said. Prosecutor Larry Cleveland said the grand jury heard testimony that the man had acted to defend his son, who had faced bullying and had been involved in an altercation with the shooting victim.

The shooter, Jacob Lee Bard of Evansville, Ind., killed 19-year-old De’Jon Fox and critically wounded another student in the incident, which occurred during finals week. Mr. Cleveland said Mr. Bard arrived on campus to move his son out of a dorm, accompanied by a police officer, and that an altercation inside the dorm escalated as a group forced the family and the escorting officer outside.

He said “acts of violence erupted,” resulting in Mr. Bard firing two shots; Mr. Bard was arrested immediately and the grand jury declined all charges on Tuesday. Mr. Bard’s lawyer, Scott Danks, did not immediately respond to requests for comment but posted that Mr. Bard had been released.

On the same day, Vanderburgh County authorities filed intimidation charges against De’Jon Fox’s parents in connection with earlier Facebook posts that officials said threatened Mr. Bard and his family; court documents include a post linked to Ms. Cleveland saying she wanted to see Mr.

Key Topics

World, Jacob Lee Bard, De'jon Fox, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Larry Cleveland