Mob of 30 people attacked college student for reporting a burglary, leading his father to shoot one of them dead

Posted For: Hauviette

An Indiana father who faced murder and assault charges after defending his son during a violent attack at a college campus will no longer face prosecution.

A Franklin County, Kentucky, grand jury on Tuesday opted not to indict 48-year-old Jacob Bard for the incident at Kentucky State University (KSU), citing insufficient evidence. Bard’s attorney, Jonathan Danks, confirmed to Law&Crime that the case is officially closed.

According to Danks, the events began in October when Bard’s 18-year-old son’s dorm room was targeted in a break-in. An “organized group” reportedly pulled the fire alarm and used fire extinguishers to disable security cameras. The student reported the break-in to campus police and shortly afterward received repeated threats, including warnings of death. One of the students allegedly threatening him had previously had a gun confiscated on campus but boasted about carrying a weapon.

On December 6, between 15 and 20 people, many masked and not enrolled at KSU, entered the dorm and violently attacked Bard’s son along with three other students. The victims were reportedly thrown to the ground, beaten, and had personal property, including a laptop, destroyed. The assault was reported to police and captured on security cameras.

Two days later, a crowd of 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the dorm with bats and other weapons. They banged on the door, prompting Bard’s son to call campus police, but the group dispersed before officers arrived. That evening, Bard and his wife drove to the campus after learning of the incident. They found their son and friends had not eaten in days out of fear of leaving their rooms and took them to eat. The next morning, the couple met with campus police and later with university officials to voice concerns about safety.

Feeling the university could not ensure their son’s protection, the Bards decided to move him home. When they returned to the dorm with a police escort, four individuals were waiting outside. The situation quickly escalated as more masked people connected to the earlier assaults arrived. Seeing the growing threat, Bard took his wife’s firearm.

As the family and police officer approached the dorm entrance, the mob charged, attacking Bard’s son and others. Witnesses described the son being slammed onto concrete and beaten. Amid the chaos, Bard tried to pull attackers off his son and, fearing imminent death or serious injury, fired his gun, striking two people. One, 19-year-old De’Jon Fox, died, while the other was hospitalized and later stabilized.

Bard immediately dropped the weapon once his son was able to escape, though he suffered injuries during the altercation. Danks emphasized that Bard’s actions were fully justified and necessary to protect his child. The attorney criticized the university for not preventing the attacks and noted that many of the individuals involved in the assaults have yet to face criminal charges.

“Jacob and his family continue to receive credible threats, and his sons now live in a secure, undisclosed location,” Danks said.

WLKY reported that Bard will be refunded the bond he posted following the grand jury’s decision. Franklin County Commonwealth Attorney Larry Cleveland commented that the case presented a difficult balance between defending others and the tragic outcome of one death and serious injury.

KSU said in a statement, via Fox affiliate WDRB, that it is cooperating with law enforcement and continues reviewing campus security. “We remain centered on our students’ safety and well-being,” said KSU President Koffi Akakpo. “We are taking steps to ensure our campus is a safe environment for learning, and when university policies are violated, appropriate action is taken.”

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