Charleston, West Virginia, December 11th, 2025.
An official communication issued by the FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT has provided the first full, authoritative account of the shooting that occurred on the campus of Kentucky State University on December 9th, and the department’s release now establishes the identity of the victim, the condition of the surviving student, the charges filed in the case, and the precise sequence of events as they unfolded that afternoon.
Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracy, speaking on behalf of the FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, confirmed that the student who lost his life was De’Jon Fox, a 19-year-old enrolled at Kentucky State University. The department extended its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Fox and noted that the second victim, whose name has not been released at this time, remains in intensive care at the hospital.
According to the formal release, the suspect in the case, Jacob Lee Bard, has now been charged with Murder and Assault in the First Degree. Mr. Bard, identified in the document as a resident of Evansville, Indiana and the parent of a Kentucky State University student, is being held at the Franklin County Regional Jail as the investigation continues. The department stated that its investigators have established that this incident involved specific individuals, and that there are no active safety concerns on the campus or within the surrounding community.
The press release further records that the initial call reporting the shooting was received by Frankfort Dispatch at 3:10 p.m. on December 9th. When officers arrived on the scene at 3:14 p.m., personnel from Kentucky State University Campus Police already had a suspect in custody. The incident took place on the south side of campus, in the area of Young Hall. Three individuals were involved; one individual, who is not a Kentucky State University student, remains in custody, while the two wounded students were transported by Frankfort Fire and EMS to a local hospital. One of those students later passed away from his injuries.
The FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT notes that the investigation has established the involvement of three individuals, two of whom were current Kentucky State University students. The release stresses that the event is regarded as an isolated incident, and reiterates that there are no continuing threats to campus safety.
The department acknowledged assistance from the FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, the KENTUCKY STATE POLICE, FRANKFORT-FRANKLIN COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, the KENTUCKY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY, the ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS (ATF), FRANKFORT DISPATCH, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS POLICE, university officials, and FRANKFORT FIRE AND EMS. Officials expressed appreciation for the cooperation among agencies during the response efforts.
The CITY OF FRANKFORT and the FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT extended their thoughts and prayers to the students, families, faculty, and staff of Kentucky State University, noting the university’s importance to the community and the effect such an incident has upon the city as a whole. The investigation remains active, and individuals with information are encouraged to contact the police department.
The Appalachian Post is an independent West Virginia news outlet dedicated to clean, verified, first-hand reporting. We do not publish rumors. We do not run speculation. Every fact we present must be supported by original documentation, official statements, or direct evidence. When secondary sources are used, we clearly identify them and never treat them as first-hand confirmation. We avoid loaded language, emotional framing, or accusatory wording, and we do not attack individuals, organizations, or other news outlets. Our role is to report only what can be verified through first-hand sources and allow readers to form their own interpretations. If we cannot confirm a claim using original evidence, we state clearly that we reviewed first-hand sources and could not find documentation confirming it. Our commitment is simple: honest reporting, transparent sourcing, and zero speculation.
Sources
Primary First-Hand Sources
• FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT, “Frankfort Police Department Provides Update on Kentucky State University Incident,” official press release issued December 10th, 2025.
Appalachian Post 
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