Father of Kentucky State University shooting victim arrested, charged in connection to fatal crash
UPDATE: 4:00 P.M. – ABC 36 News Now has learned De’Jon Fox Sr. has been arrested and is in custody.
Court records show De’Jon Fox Sr., the father of a Kentucky State University shooting victim, was arrested Monday (12/29) on multiple new charges, including counts related to a fatal crash.
According to court documents, Fox Sr. is charged with driving while suspended and multiple counts of failure to remain at the scene of an accident.
He is also charged with causing death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and causing death while operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance in his blood.
The charges stem from an incident that remains under investigation. Police have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Fox Sr. was previously the subject of an arrest warrant issued Dec. 26 for failing to appear in court on an intimidation charge. That charge is connected to threats authorities say were made toward the family of Jacob Bard following the fatal shooting of Fox’s son, De’Jon Fox Jr., on the Kentucky State University campus earlier this month.
A Franklin County grand jury previously declined to indict Bard on any charges related to the shooting death of Fox Jr.
Evansville police continue to investigate both cases. No additional information has been released at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY:
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A warrant has been issued for the father of a man who was killed earlier this month during a shooting at Kentucky State University.
According to court records, an arrest warrant was issued Dec. 26 for De’Jon Fox Sr. for failing to appear at a scheduled court hearing.
Fox Sr. is charged with intimidation, accused of making a threat to commit a forcible felony against the family of Jacob Bard. A Franklin County grand jury previously declined to indict Bard on any charges related to the shooting death of De’Jon Fox Jr.
Fox Jr. was killed Dec. 9 during an altercation on Kentucky State University’s campus. Police say another person was also shot and critically injured during the incident.
As previously reported, investigators say the shooting happened after what they described as a mob-style assault. Reports indicate Bard’s son was allegedly attacked by several people before the shooting occurred.
Following the shooting, Evansville police began investigating a series of social media posts they say contained threats tied to the case. According to court documents, posts attributed to Fox Sr. were reported to police on Dec. 10 and 11 and were preserved as evidence.
Additional posts were later reported on Dec. 19 and 20 from a Facebook account investigators identified as belonging to Chardnae Cleveland, the mother of Fox Jr. Police say those posts referenced violent retaliation and mentioned the Vice Lords, a criminal street gang known for organized crime and violence. While some posts were later deleted, investigators say screenshots were saved.
Court records state police consider the statements concerning and believe they pose a potential risk of retaliatory violence.
Cleveland has pleaded not guilty to the same intimidation charge as Fox Sr.
Evansville police continue to handle the investigation.
