A tragic and deeply unsettling scene unfolded this week on the campus of Kentucky State University, where a 48-year-old parent — Jacob Lee Bard, of Evansville, Indiana — is now facing murder and first-degree assault charges in connection with a shooting that left one student dead and another critically wounded.
The shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon at Whitney M. Young Jr. residence hall, a dormitory on the south side of the Frankfort campus. According to Frankfort police, Bard allegedly opened fire inside the dorm, killing 19-year-old De’Jon Fox, a student from Indianapolis. A second student, whose name has not been released, remains in critical condition.
In a press conference Wednesday, Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy confirmed Bard’s identity and charges but declined to elaborate on what might have led to the shooting. He acknowledged that investigators have reviewed bystander videos and surveillance footage, but emphasized that it’s still “too early” to speculate on a motive.
Media inquiries about a possible altercation involving Bard’s sons prior to the incident — and whether Bard had come to campus to confront students or administrators over their safety — were met with a cautious response from police. Tracy stopped short of confirming any connection between Bard’s children and the victims.
“We believe this incident was isolated to the individuals involved,” Tracy said, but provided no further context.
Police responded to the scene within minutes of the initial 3:10 p.m. call, though Kentucky State University police had already taken Bard into custody by the time Frankfort officers arrived. Authorities say the situation was quickly contained and there is no ongoing threat to the campus community.
Bard is currently being held at Franklin County Regional Jail, with formal proceedings expected to follow soon.
The university has not yet issued a detailed public statement beyond confirming that counseling resources are being made available to students and staff affected by the incident.
Investigators continue to urge anyone with information or additional footage to come forward. As for the motive, the campus, and now a nation, awaits answers.
