The individual accused of the shooting at a Kentucky State University dormitory, which resulted in the death of one student and left another critically injured, has been identified as the parent of a student attending the university, as authorities disclosed on Wednesday.
Jacob Lee Bard, aged 48, faces charges of murder and first-degree assault following the incident on Tuesday at the Whitney M. Young Jr. residence hall, situated on the southern part of the campus. According to Frankfort Police, Bard hails from Evansville, Indiana, approximately 150 miles west of Frankfort.
The tragic event claimed the life of 19-year-old De’Jon Fox, a resident of Indianapolis. The condition of the second student involved remains critical, although the authorities have withheld his identity.
Officials have described the shooting as an isolated incident involving specific individuals, yet they have not provided further information regarding the circumstances or potential motives behind the attack.
Jacob Lee Bard’s formal charges stem from the deadly shooting on December 9, 2025, at Kentucky State University. Bard, from Evansville, Indiana, is noted to be the parent of another student attending the institution.
When questioned about allegations of a confrontation involving Bard’s sons preceding the shooting or whether Bard had visited the campus to discuss their safety with administrators, Frankfort Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy refrained from speculating on the incident’s potential causes.
The shooting happened around 3 p.m. at the Whitney M. Young Jr. residence hall on the Kentucky State University campus on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (@Collins_Wx via Storyful)
“It’s really too early in the investigation right now to really give any details that led up to it. A lot of it would be speculation,” Tracy said Wednesday.
Police said they have reviewed bystander video and surveillance footage.
Police are reviewing video footage to help determine the circumstances that led to the violence. (@Collins_Wx via Storyful)
Frankfort officers responded around 3:10 p.m. to a report of a shooting at the residence hall and arrived within minutes. By then, Kentucky State University police had already taken Bard into custody.
Bard is being held at the Franklin County Regional Jail.
