Grand jury: No indictment in Kentucky State University campus shooting

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Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A grand jury declined to indict a man who killed one and injured another on the campus of Kentucky State University on Dec. 9.

Jacob Bard of Evansville, Ind., shot two people outside his sons' dorm on the campus of the historically Black university in Frankfort, Ky. He and his wife had arrived to remove their sons from campus for security concerns.

A judge had set a bond for Bard at $1 million, though the commonwealth had asked for $500,000.

After the grand jury's decision, Bard is no longer expected to face charges.

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On Monday, the day before the grand jury hearing, Bard's attorneys released a statement detailing why they believed the shooting was justified.

The family had a police escort to Bard's sons' KSU dorm, but they were attacked by a group of 20 to 30 people wearing ski masks and hoods who "allegedly gathered inside the dorm lobby, attacking Bard's family" when they went inside the building.

Bard noticed the group forming and armed himself with his wife's gun. When they made their way to the door, the mob attacked them.

"In the chaos, Jacob tried to physically pull the individuals off his son, was struck and when he was unable to do so, and seeing his son in imminent danger of death and serious physical injury, Jacob then drew his firearm and shot two individuals who were actively and viciously beating his son," Danks & Danks, the law firm representing Bard, said in a statement.

De'Jon Fox Jr., 19, died in the shooting, and another student was critically injured.

"Not only was Jacob Bard completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force that day, but Jacob also took every reasonable step to alert Kentucky State University and the Kentucky State University Police Department of the imminent danger his sons and other students were in," Danks & Danks said in a statement.

The statement said that the incident began when his son's dorm room was burglarized on Oct. 11. A group of people pulled the fire alarm and used fire extinguishers to disable security cameras.

Bard's son alerted his resident assistant, and then he began getting threats.

Three days before the shooting, his son and three others were attacked by 15 to 20 people. On the day before the shooting, his son said 20 to 30 people used baseball bats and other weapons to attack him in his dorm.

A police officer responded, but made no arrests.

Bard's son called his parents and explained what was happening, and they drove to campus immediately.

Danks & Danks said that after meeting with campus police and the university dean, Bard "became convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment for their son and informed the university they were moving him home due to extreme safety concerns."

"Jacob Bard was given no option but to use necessary deadly force to protect his sons, his wife and himself from serious bodily injury or death," Danks & Danks said in a statement.

Bard's attorney Jonathan Danks said they are thrilled with the outcome. "Bard can be reunited with his family, which is very emotional for them," Danks told the Lexington Herald-Leader on Tuesday. "We are extremely glad he's out and can return to his family for Christmas."

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