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Shooting reported at Kentucky State University, gov says
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced on social media Tuesday that officials are aware of a reported shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, where there are "some injuries." A suspect has been arrested.
Police have identified the gunman responsible for killing one student and injuring another during a shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday.
The shooting happened around 3 p.m. and was an "isolated incident," Scott Tracy, assistant chief of police for Frankfort, said during a news conference Tuesday evening. Tracy said police swiftly responded to the shooting.
fILE - The Kentucky State University campus on Aug. 1, 2024, in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Who is the Kentucky State University shooter?
What we know:
Frankfort police said Jacob Lee Bard was booked into jail on murder and first-degree assault charges in connection with the shooting. Police said Bard is from Evansville, Indiana, which is about 150 miles (241.4 kilometers) west of Frankfort.
What we don't know:
The motive for the shooting is not known at this time.
What they're saying:
"We are mourning the loss of one of our students. As a parent, I cannot imagine receiving the call placed today to the parents," Dr. Koffi Akakpo, president of the university, said during a news conference on Tuesday.
"We are aware of a reported shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. At this time, we are aware of some injuries. We will share more information as available. Law enforcement are on scene, and a suspect has been arrested. Let’s pray for all those affected."
Kentucky State University shooting
Dig deeper:
University officials confirmed to local news media that a shooting took place on the school’s south campus.
Officials with the Frankfort Police Department said the school would be on lock down until further notice, according to WKYT.
Police in Frankfort, the state's capital city, said the campus was on lockdown. Video from WLKY-TV in Louisville showed multiple police vehicles outside a cluster of dormitories and crime scene tape in a courtyard.
One student who was shot at the residence hall, Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall, is in critical condition but is stable, according to the university.
The identities of the victims were not released immediately.
What's next:
Classes, final exams and campus activities at the university have been canceled for the rest of the week, according to the school. The fall term was scheduled to end Friday, according to the school website.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a WKYT report and a tweet from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear posted on Dec. 9, 2025. This story was reported from San Jose.