UPDATE: Dec. 23 at 6:20 p.m.
Kentucky State University has released a statement after a grand jury declined to indict Jacob Bard on Tuesday in connection to a deadly shooting at KSU earlier this month.
Find that full statement below.
"Kentucky State University continues to mourn the tragic loss of life that occurred on December 9, an event that has deeply affected our entire Thorobred family. Our hearts are with everyone who is grieving, and our focus remains on caring for our students and supporting the survivors, families, and all members of our campus community impacted by this loss.
The University is aware of today’s grand jury decision. This development does not lessen the pain our community continues to feel, nor does it change our priorities. Our commitment remains centered on supporting our students and ensuring Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live, and work.
As questions and public discussion continue in the days ahead, we want our campus community to know that the University is cooperating with law enforcement and investigators as appropriate and will continue to do so. Our focus is on care and accountability within the scope of our responsibilities as an institution.
“We remain centered on our students’ safety and well-being,” said Dr. Koffi C. Akakpo, President of Kentucky State University. “We will continue working closely with our partners, strengthening our safeguards, and providing the care, compassion, and support our Thorobred family needs as we move forward together.”
The University is enhancing security measures and continuing internal reviews, while taking steps to help ensure our campus environment remains one where all can pursue their education safely. In accordance with University policies, when conduct within the University’s jurisdiction is found to violate our standards, appropriate action will be taken through established processes.
Counseling and support resources remain available to any student, faculty, or staff member who needs assistance. Kentucky State University remains committed to caring for one another and moving Onward and Upward together with compassion, strength, and purpose."
UPDATE: Dec. 23 at 1 p.m.
A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict an Indiana father on Tuesday accused of shooting two people at Kentucky State University earlier this month, killing one person outside a dormitory.
Jacob Bard will not face murder charges after the grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.
"Our position has consistently been that he was innocent, that he acted in lawful self-defense of himself, his son, and his wife," Jonathan Danks, Jacob Bard's attorney, said.
According to Danks, a crowd of as many as 30 people, some armed with weapons, threatened Bard's family as he was trying to move his son out of his dorm room. The attorney maintains Bard acted in self-defense when the group attacked.
"I know he is feeling tremendous relief. And so we are very glad now that he's going to be able to be with his family for the holidays without this hanging over his head," Danks said.
Despite the grand jury's decision, Danks acknowledged the emotional toll on the family.
"No one should be in a position where they have to utilize deadly force, and it's absolutely tragic that a young man lost his life. Jacob did what any responsible parent would do to protect his son's life," Danks said.
The family continues to face safety concerns following the incident.
"The death threats that have been made (to the Bard family), to our knowledge, have not been dealt with. And so the entire family will be staying in an undisclosed location at this time," Danks said.
"But law enforcement is aware of the threats and they will be under increased security," Danks said.
While the grand jury's decision is final for now, prosecutors could seek another grand jury to re-examine the case if new evidence emerges.
"We believe that will be the final outcome of this case. Under the law of Kentucky, a prosecutor can always go back and seek another grand jury to re-indict somebody. There's nothing that stops them from doing that," Danks said.
LEX 18 previously reported that on Tuesday morning, Bard posted a $100,000 bond, 10% of his initial $1 million, and was released from jail.
Original Story:
Attorneys for Jacob Bard, the man accused of shooting and killing one Kentucky State University student and injuring another, said in a Monday afternoon press release that Bard "was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force."
Bard is represented by Jonathan Danks of Danks & Danks, a law firm based in Indiana. In a press release, the firm argues that on Monday, Dec. 8, a group of 20 to 30 students gathered outside of Bard's younger son's dorm with weapons and beat on the door, after which he contacted police, the release read.
When informed by his son that he had been attacked multiple times, Bard and his wife traveled to KSU.
The couple met with KSU police the following morning on December 9 and, although sincere, "it was obvious to them that the campus police were ill-prepared to deal with the out of control and violent environment" at KSU, the firm writes.
The firm argues that both KSU and KSU Police had, up to the day of the shooting, failed to address "multiple armed, violent felonies" against Bard's sons, aged 18 and 19, and other students leading up to the shooting. These included a burglaries and armed assaults against Bard's sons, the firm claims.
The release noted that another meeting was scheduled for 11 a.m. with the campus police and the university dean at Young Hall, at which the family "became convinced" that the school "would not be able to maintain a safe environment" for his son and told KSU officials that Bard's son would be moving home.
According to the release, Bard's family approached his younger son's dorm room to retrieve his belongings, finding four individuals waiting for him; the officer escorting the family and ordered the individuals to leave.
The firm says that when the officer left at one point, an individual previously involved in prior assaults began to photograph Bard's son, resulting in a physical altercation between the son and this individual.
"Jacob’s son immediately exited the elevator and called KSU police," the release continued. "Upon exiting the elevator, other individuals who had been involved in prior attacks on Bard’s son were now in the lobby despite the assurances of the University that these individuals would no longer be allowed in the building. These individuals again photographed the Bard family with their phones and began making threats."
As the family loaded Bard's son's belongings, attorney say the family "saw numerous individuals who had also been involved in prior attacks arriving and running to join the other individuals in the dormitory lobby area" and waited for police to escort them into the building.
"Despite having two armed Kentucky State University Police Officers present, a group of twenty to thirty individuals gathered in the lobby of the son’s dormitory to violently and viciously attack Jacob Bard’s son and family," the release said. "Many of these individuals were not students of the university and wore ski masks, hoods, and otherwise concealed their faces."
The release goes on to say that Bard's son was "slammed into the concrete," with multiple people attacking him.
"The officer on scene had completely lost control of the situation, and while Jacob and his wife ran towards their son, the officer was retreating further from the erupting violence," the release continues. "In the chaos, Jacob tied to physically pull the individuals off his son, was struck and when he was unable to do so, and seeing his son in imminent danger of death and serious physical injury, Jacob then drew his firearm and shot two individuals who were actively and viciously beating his son."
Danks criticized the university's handling of the situation during an interview via Zoom on Monday.
"It's extremely disheartening to think that when you go to college to prepare for your future, that this is the type of danger that's being propagated around you," Danks said. "And that the people that are in charge of keeping you safe and when you report these things as you didn't take appropriate steps to make sure that these young men are safe."
Bard's two children, who attended KSU, remain concerned about their safety, according to their attorney.
"The mother of the deceased student has openly posted on social media calling for Jacob's son to be murdered for revenge, has appealed to criminal gangs, specifically naming the Vice Lords," Danks details. "The family is receiving credible death threats, and the sons now are living in an undisclosed location for their own safety."
The attorney acknowledged the tragic nature of the situation.
"While fully justified in the actions that he took, it's an absolutely tragic situation and nobody ever wants to be put in a situation where you have to take somebody's life, especially that of a young man," Danks said.
The case against Bard was sent to the grand jury on December 16.
Covering Kentucky
Judge sends case of man accused in deadly KSU shooting to grand jury
A detective at that hearing testified that, in one video, the shooting victims had not been seen assaulting Bard's son.
Read the full release below.
