The shooting happened near a KSU residence hall, according to officials. A suspect has been arrested.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — A suspect is in custody after a fatal shooting at Kentucky State University (KSU) on Tuesday.
Frankfort Police said the suspect is not a KSU student and that they believe the shooting was an isolated incident.
In a statement, the university said two students were shot near Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall, a residence hall on the south side of KSU’s campus.
Frankfort Police said one of those students died from their injures. The other student remains in “critical condition” at a local hospital.
The identities of both students and the suspect have not been released at this time.
Frankfort Police Department said the suspected shooter in custody is Jacob Lee Bard of Evansville, Indiana, who is charged with murder and first-degree assault.
The shooting happened just three days before KSU, an HBCU in Kentucky, was set to end its 2025 fall semester.
Speaking at a press conference, KSU President Dr. Koffi Akakpo called the shooting a “senseless tragedy.” He said:
“Today, it was a senseless tragedy. We are mourning the loss of one of our students. As a parent, I cannot imagine receiving the call I had to place today to the parents of our students. They need prayers. Kentucky State University needs prayers. I cannot thank law enforcement enough, our community enough, our leader here with us enough. Thank you for even being here.”
“We are in direct contact with the families and providing every available support to them,” KSU continued in its statement. “Counseling and support services are available for students, faculty and staff who may be impacted by this event.”
In a social media post, Gov. Andy Beshear said he is aware of the shooting and asked for everyone to “pray for all those affected.”
“This was not a mass shooting or a random incident,” Beshear said in a video update hours later. “Please pray. Pray for those that have been injured. Please pray for these Kentucky State University students that, again, might be rightfully scared. Pray for a world where these things don’t happen and I’ll keep trying to build the Kentucky that we don’t see arguments end in violence.”
U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky) said his office is also closely monitoring the situation and asked for continued prayers to those impacted.
KSU’s campus is located in Frankfort, which is about 55 miles east of Louisville.
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