FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDRB) -- A 19-year-old Kentucky State University student was identified Wednesday as the victim of Tuesday's double shooting on campus.
De'Jon Darrell Fox Jr., who's from Indianapolis, was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon near M. Young Jr. Hall. Another victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and police said he remained in intensive care as of 2p .m. Wednesday.
Frankfort Police Asst. Chief Scott Tracy said a shooting was reported on campus around 3:10 p.m. Officers arrived to the scene about four minutes later, and campus police had already taken a suspect — 48-year-old Jacob Bard, of Evansville, Indiana — into custody. Bard was booked into the Franklin County Regional Jail on murder and first-degree assault charges.
Police said Wednesday that Bard is the parent of KSU student but said the shooting was an "isolated incident" posing no further threat anyone on campus.
According to his arrest citation, Bard was "involved in a physical altercation" on campus during which he pulled out a gun and shot two people.
Fox was pronounced dead at 4:33 p.m. at Frankfort Regional Medical Center.
KSU senior Benjamin Darough was on campus when the shooting happened.
"We just heard it and everyone rushed outside so it was kind of just like, it was a big deal. But we were still cautious, as well. Everyone is in the windows just watching around ... having something happen right here in our grill, right where we are, where we stay is, it was kind of different," Darough said. "I feel like we need to come together as students, as a school, and address some of the underlying topics that need to be going on, like, how was this even able to happen and why was this even something that could have happened?"
Jariah McCullough, a junior from Indianapolis who was a friend of Fox's, said he just saw him earlier Tuesday.
"It could've been prevented, I feel like, and it just wasn't," McCullough said Wednesday.
KSU's campus remains on lockdown until further notice.
Frankfort police said university officers were present at the scene of shooting — as can be seen in the video above — and they were able to diffuse the situation and get Bard into custody quickly.
Classes canceled
Classes, final exams and campus activities at the university have been canceled for the rest of the week, according to the school. The fall term was scheduled to end Friday, according to the school website.
"Students may return home if they choose," the school said in a statement. "Additional guidance will be communicated as soon as possible."
University President Koffi C. Akakpo called it a "senseless tragedy."
"We're mourning the loss of one of our students," he said during the news conference Tuesday evening. "As a parent, I cannot imagine receiving the call I placed today to the parents."
Counseling and support services were being made available for students, faculty and staff impacted by the shooting.
Second shooting in 2025
Tuesday's shooting was the second in four months in the same area of the university.
Someone fired multiple shots from a vehicle near the same residence hall Aug. 17, hitting two people walking on campus the university said weren't students. Frankfort police said one victim was treated for minor injuries and a second sustained serious injuries. The dorm and at least one vehicle were damaged by gunfire.
"Nothing was ever done, and it took one of our students to pass away for them to be like 'Oh, we have to do something now," McCullough said.
Kentucky State is a public historically Black university with about 2,200 students. Lawmakers authorized the school's creation in 1886.
The school sits about 2 miles east of Kentucky's Capitol building in Frankfort.
This story will be updated.
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