Shooting at Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall
A shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort on Tuesday afternoon left one student dead and another critically injured, officials said. The incident occurred around 3:10 p.m. near the residence hall Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall.
Suspect in Custody
Frankfort police quickly apprehended the suspect, Jacob Lee Bard, a 27-year-old from Evansville, Indiana, who is not a student at the university. Bard has been charged with murder and first-degree assault. Police described the shooting as an “isolated incident” and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to campus safety.
University Response
Kentucky State University President Koffi C. Akakpo called the event a “senseless tragedy” and expressed condolences to the families. The university canceled classes, final exams, and campus activities for the remainder of the week. Counseling and support services have been made available to students and staff.
Government Reaction
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged the public to pray for the victims and the university community. “Violence has no place in our commonwealth or country,” he said in a social media post.
Campus Safety and History
This is the second shooting near Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall in four months. The previous incident in August involved gunfire from a vehicle that injured two people, neither of whom were students. Kentucky State University, a historically Black college founded in 1886, has approximately 2,200 students.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not publicly addressed a motive. The investigation remains active, and law enforcement is working with the university to ensure campus safety and provide support to the affected community.
