FRANKFORT, KY — The campus of Kentucky State University (KSU) was shrouded in silence and grief Wednesday, its grounds empty under a continued lockdown as the community reeled from a targeted shooting that left one student dead and another fighting for his life. The violence, executed by an armed outsider with no connection to the school, has forced an abrupt and sorrowful end to the academic year.
Authorities confirmed the slain student is 19-year-old Dejon Fox. A second student, whose identity remains protected, is hospitalized in stable but critical condition. The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Jacob Lee Bard of Evansville, Indiana, was apprehended at the scene near Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall just minutes after the 3:10 p.m. attack. Bard now faces charges of murder and first-degree assault.
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In a decisive response to the tragedy, KSU President Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo announced the cancellation of all remaining classes, final exams, and campus activities for the week. Students have been given the option to leave campus immediately, a move underscoring the profound disruption.
“Our primary focus is the well-being of our students and our campus family,” a university spokesperson said. “We are providing all necessary support and resources during this unimaginable time.”
The arrest of Bard has done little to quell the urgent, unsettling question hanging over the investigation: What brought a 48-year-old man from another state to this Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campus to shoot two young students? Law enforcement officials reiterated the attack was an isolated incident but have not yet disclosed a possible motive, leaving a void filled with anxiety and speculation.
“The swift action of first responders contained this threat and saved lives,” said a Frankfort Police spokesperson during a somber press briefing. “But today, our role extends beyond investigation to helping a wounded community heal.”
The tragedy has cast a pall far beyond Frankfort, touching the broader network of HBCUs and prompting statements of solidarity from sister institutions. Governor Andy Beshear, in his video address, framed the loss as a collective wound for the commonwealth.
Local leaders echoed the call for unity. “This isn’t just a campus tragedy; it’s a city tragedy,” said Frankfort City Commissioner Katima Smith-Willis. “KSU’s heartbeat is our heartbeat. When it is injured, we all feel the pain.”
As crime scene investigators processed the south campus area, the university’s crisis counselors worked with traumatized students, many of whom were preparing for finals just hours before the gunfire erupted. The campus, typically vibrant in its final spring days, now serves as the backdrop for a painful and premature goodbye to the semester—and to a young life.
The investigation, involving local police, Kentucky State Police, and federal agencies, continues as the KSU community begins the long process of mourning and seeking answers.