Kentucky State University officials and local authorities identified the student killed in a campus shooting as 19-year-old De’Jon Darrell Fox Jr. The shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon on the Frankfort campus; Fox was taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead, the Franklin County Coroner’s Office said. One other student was critically injured and remained in uncertain condition the following day. A 48-year-old man, Jacob Lee Bard, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and first-degree assault; court records show he is being held without bail.
Key Takeaways
- Victim identified: De’Jon Darrell Fox Jr., 19, confirmed by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office as the sole fatality in the shooting.
- Timing and location: The shooting happened around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday on the Kentucky State University (KSU) campus in Frankfort.
- Injuries and medical status: One other student was left in critical condition; official updates on that student’s status were not available the next afternoon.
- Suspect and charges: Jacob Lee Bard, 48, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and first-degree assault; he is held without bail in Franklin County.
- University response: KSU suspended classes, final exams and campus activities for the rest of the week and called for community support for affected students.
- Family statement: Fox’s grandmother described him as a sophomore from Indianapolis, known for his humor and warmth; full autopsy results are expected in 14 to 16 weeks.
- Enrollment and context: KSU is located in Frankfort and enrolls roughly 2,200 students, according to the university website.
Background
Kentucky State University, a public historically Black university in the state capital of Frankfort, serves a student body of approximately 2,200. Campus safety and student wellbeing have been a recurring focus for colleges nationwide, where isolated violent incidents can rapidly disrupt academic calendars and student life. Institutions often balance preserving open campus environments with measures to deter and respond to armed confrontations, and many universities have expanded counseling and emergency protocols in recent years. Local law enforcement agencies typically handle criminal investigations on campus, often coordinating with university public safety and county coroner offices.
Fox, 19, was reported by family and KSU spokespeople as a sophomore from Indianapolis who had not yet declared a major; relatives emphasized his role in the family as a lively, outgoing presence. The Franklin County Coroner’s Office said Fox appeared to have succumbed to injuries sustained during the shooting and that a full autopsy will be available in 14 to 16 weeks. The defendant, identified by authorities as Jacob Lee Bard, is reported by the university’s spokesperson to be the father of one or more KSU students; the university declined to provide additional identifying details about those children. The incident prompted an immediate campus response including temporary suspension of classes and resources for students.
Main Event
Authorities say the shooting took place around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday at a location on the KSU campus. Emergency responders transported the wounded to a nearby hospital; Fox was later pronounced dead there, according to the Franklin County Coroner’s Office. Law enforcement secured the scene and detained a suspect at the site of the shooting. Local jail records show the suspect, Jacob Lee Bard, is being held without bail on charges of murder and first-degree assault.
The university president, Koffi Akakpo, described the incident as a “senseless tragedy” and asked for prayers and support for students. KSU also announced the suspension of classes, final exams and campus activities through the end of the week to give the community time to process and to allow investigators to work. Campus officials have not released a detailed timeline of events beyond the initial reporting, and the Franklin County Coroner’s Office is handling identification and autopsy procedures.
Family members spoke publicly about Fox’s personality and plans; his grandmother, Apryl Tarrance, said he was born and raised in Indianapolis and remembered him as “the life of the party” and the family comedian. She said he had not yet chosen a major but had been a sophomore at KSU and that relatives are struggling to come to terms with the loss. The university and local officials have emphasized support services and community mourning as investigators continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses.
Analysis & Implications
This shooting underscores several persistent challenges for smaller public campuses: maintaining safety in open settings, ensuring rapid emergency response, and communicating effectively with students and families during a crisis. For KSU, a sudden, violent event on a compact campus can reverberate across a tight-knit student body and the surrounding capital city of Frankfort. Administrators face immediate questions about whether additional security measures or prevention strategies are needed, but policy responses must balance civil liberties, student privacy and practical effectiveness. Any new measures will likely be scrutinized by students and families for their impact on campus life.
Legally, the charges against the arrested suspect—murder and first-degree assault—signal prosecutors intend to pursue the most serious available counts. The criminal case, if it proceeds, will rely on coroner findings, witness testimony and forensic evidence gathered at the scene. The 14-to-16-week autopsy timeline means some forensic conclusions may not be available for months, potentially affecting the timing of formal indictments or trial preparation. Meanwhile, the university’s suspension of activities reflects an effort to prioritize safety and give investigators space to work.
There are broader reputational and operational implications for KSU: short-term disruptions to academics and campus life, a likely increase in counseling and support demand, and slower prospective recruitment cycles as prospective students and families evaluate campus safety. Public officials’ responses—statements from the governor and university leaders, and visible cooperation with law enforcement—will shape public perception. Over the longer term, the incident may prompt reviews of campus access policies, event security and mental-health resources at KSU and peer institutions.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shooting time | About 3:00 p.m., Tuesday |
| Fatality | De’Jon Darrell Fox Jr., 19 |
| Other injured | One student, critical condition (status unconfirmed) |
| Suspect | Jacob Lee Bard, 48 — charged with murder and first-degree assault |
| KSU enrollment | Roughly 2,200 students |
The table above summarizes the confirmed factual elements reported in the immediate aftermath. While some campus shootings involve multiple fatalities or extended standoffs, this incident, according to current public records, involved a single confirmed death and one critically injured student. The university’s swift suspension of classes mirrors a common short-term response aimed at stabilizing campus operations and supporting students while authorities investigate.
Reactions & Quotes
The university president framed the event as a community loss and called for support for students and families.
“Our students need prayers,”
Koffi Akakpo, President, Kentucky State University
Fox’s family conveyed shock and grief while describing him as a humorous, caring young man.
“He is the life of the party, the goofy one… He’s a wonderful kid,”
Apryl Tarrance, grandmother of De’Jon Fox Jr.
State leadership urged the public to keep those affected in their thoughts and to hope for a safer future.
“Please, pray for those that have been injured… Pray for a world where these things don’t happen,”
Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky
Unconfirmed
- The motive for the shooting has not been publicly established and remains under investigation.
- The precise medical condition and prognosis of the student listed as critically injured were not confirmed by authorities as of the most recent reports.
- Details about the suspect’s relationship to specific KSU students beyond the university spokesperson’s statement that he is a parent of one or more students have not been independently verified.
Bottom Line
The death of De’Jon Darrell Fox Jr. on KSU’s campus is a tragic event with immediate human, institutional and legal consequences. Short-term priorities include supporting students and families, completing the coroner’s examination, and allowing investigators to collect evidence and interviews necessary for the criminal case. Administrators must also address community concerns about safety while avoiding premature policy moves without full information.
As the criminal process unfolds and autopsy results become available in the coming weeks, further details should clarify the sequence of events and the evidence prosecutors will rely on. For now, the loss has deeply affected a small campus community, and officials at the university and state level are emphasizing support, prayer and cooperation with investigators.
Sources
- NBC News (national news report summarizing local authorities and family statements)
- Kentucky State University (official university site: enrollment and campus information)