Franklin County, KY – Jacob Bard will not face charges for a shooting incident involving a mob that attacked his son on a college campus. A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict Bard, citing insufficient evidence related to the shooting at Kentucky State University.
The incident began when Bard’s son experienced threats and harassment following a burglary in his dorm room in October. On December 6, a large group of individuals violently assaulted the 18-year-old and three of his friends in the dorm.
Two days later, the group returned to the campus with weapons, prompting Bard’s family to travel to the college around midnight. Upon arrival, they discovered that their son had not eaten for days due to safety concerns, and subsequent meetings with campus police failed to alleviate the family’s fears.
With continued threats against his son, Bard approached the dorm when he encountered individuals who had previously attacked his son. As tensions escalated, Bard armed himself with his wife’s firearm to protect his family from the oncoming crowd.
In the ensuing chaos, Bard shot two individuals who were attacking his son. One of the individuals died, while the other was hospitalized but later stabilized.
Bard was initially charged with murder and assault, but his attorney contended that the university failed to address ongoing threats and violence on campus. The attorney also criticized law enforcement for not pursuing charges against the attackers.
Bard’s family has received death threats, prompting them to relocate for their safety. The shooting remains under investigation, with Kentucky State University stating that it is cooperating with law enforcement and enhancing security measures on campus to protect its students.
