Defense claims Jacob Bard acted in self-defense in Kentucky State University shooting
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Attorneys for Jacob Lee Bard claim he acted in self-defense and in defense of his family during the deadly shooting earlier this month at Kentucky State University, as a Franklin County grand jury prepares to consider the case.
In a press release issued by Bard’s defense team at the law firm Danks & Danks, attorneys say the Franklin County Commonwealth’s Attorney is convening a grand jury Tuesday to consider indicting Bard on a murder charge related to the Dec. 9 shooting on KSU’s campus.
The defense alleges Bard’s actions were legally justified and followed days of escalating threats and violence directed at his sons and other students. According to the release, Bard and his wife had repeatedly contacted Kentucky State University and campus police to report what they describe as armed assaults, threats and security failures in the days leading up to the shooting.
Attorneys claim Bard and his wife traveled to KSU on Dec. 9 to withdraw their son from the university for safety reasons and requested a police escort to retrieve his belongings. The release states that despite the presence of armed campus police officers, a group of 20 to 30 people allegedly gathered inside the dormitory lobby and attacked Bard’s family when they entered the building.
According to the defense, Bard armed himself after seeing what he believed was an imminent threat to his family. Attorneys allege that during the confrontation, Bard’s son was knocked to the ground and beaten by multiple people, prompting Bard to fire his weapon. The release claims Bard stopped shooting once his son was able to escape and immediately surrendered to police.
Defense attorneys further allege that Kentucky State University and its police department failed to act on earlier reports of burglary, assaults and threats involving non-students inside residence halls. The release claims several incidents were captured on campus security cameras but did not result in arrests.
The defense also alleges Bard and his family have continued to receive death threats since the incident and are now living in an undisclosed location for safety reasons. The release says, “The mother of the deceased student has openly called for the murder of Jacob’s son for revenge, requested the help of criminal gangs including the Vice Lords criminal gang, and yet no criminal charges have been filed against her.”
The shooting resulted in the death of one student, 19-year-old De’Jon Fox and critical injuries to at least one other student. Prosecutors have not publicly responded to the defense’s claims, and the grand jury process is conducted in secret under Kentucky law.
This case remains under investigation, and ABC36 NEWS NOW will continue to follow developments as more information becomes available.
