Kentucky State University Shooting Leaves 1 Dead, 1 Injured; Gunman Arrested

One student is dead and another is in critical condition following a shooting at Kentucky State University (KSU), officials reported Tuesday.

A 48-year-old suspect, Jacob Lee Bard, was arrested and charged with murder and first-degree assault. According to Franklin County Jail records, he is being held without bond.

Frankfort Police Department Assistant Chief Scott Tracy described the incident as an "isolated incident" during a Tuesday briefing. He emphasized that there are no active safety concerns on campus. Tracy did not release the identities of the victims or provide information on a possible motive.

Officers were dispatched to the KSU campus at 3:10 p.m. following reports of a shooting. They arrived within minutes and quickly took the suspected shooter into custody.

The students were transported to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead and the other remained in critical condition.

The campus was placed on lockdown while the local sheriff’s office and university police secured the area.

Kentucky State University President Koffi Akakpo called the shooting a "senseless tragedy" and said the campus is mourning the loss of a student. "Our students need prayers," he said. "Kentucky State University needs prayers."

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also asked the public for prayers, stating, "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."

Kentucky State University, a historically Black university in Frankfort, the state capital, has a student body of approximately 2,200 students.