A quiet Tuesday meant for final exams turned into a crime scene at Kentucky State University, leaving one student dead and another fighting for their life after a gunman opened fire near a campus residence hall.
Frankfort police said 48-year-old Jacob Lee Bard, of Evansville, Indiana, was booked on murder and first-degree assault charges in connection with the shooting near Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall.
The suspect is not a student at the historically Black university.
The violence erupted during the stressful height of finals week. In a late-night update Tuesday, university officials confirmed that one of the two victims had succumbed to their injuries. The second student remains hospitalized in stable but critical condition.
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“This is beyond terrible,” a school spokesperson said.
While the investigation is still in its early stages, authorities described the shooting as an “isolated attack.” Police and university officials noted that the incident did not appear to be targeted, though they have not yet released a motive for why the Indiana man was on the Frankfort campus.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear acknowledged the tragedy, emphasizing that while the threat was contained quickly, the impact on the community is severe.
Campus police officers, who were on the scene almost instantly, apprehended the suspect without firing their own weapons. By the time Frankfort Police arrived—within four minutes of the first 911 call—the suspect was in custody and the area was secured.
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In response to the tragedy, the university has effectively shut down for the remainder of the week. All classes, final exams, and campus activities are suspended.
“Students may return home if they choose. Additional guidance will be communicated as soon as possible,” the university stated, adding that counseling services are being made available to students and staff.
The shooting at KSU marks a grim statistic: it is the 73rd shooting on school grounds this year, according to data from CNN and the Gun Violence Archive. These incidents, primarily occurring on college campuses, have resulted in at least 29 deaths and over 100 injuries nationwide in 2025.
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