FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – A Franklin County grand jury has declined to indict the man charged in the deadly Kentucky State University shooting.
Jacob Bard will not face murder and assault charges after the grand jury decided not to return an indictment Tuesday.
Defense attorney reacts
Bard’s attorney Jonathan Danks had expressed confidence in his client’s case.
“If the grand jury does decide to indict our client he will have his day in court where we are able to present a full defense and we are confident that once a jury hears the defense they will acquit him on any and all charges,” Danks said earlier Monday.
Self-defense claim accepted
Bard’s attorneys argued that under Kentucky law someone can use deadly force to protect themselves or another person, and that’s what they said Bard did in this case.
The grand jury, which only hears evidence from the Commonwealth’s Attorney, apparently found the self-defense claim credible enough to decline prosecution.
MORE: Evansville attorneys claim man charged in KSU shooting was justified
Background on the case
Bard had been released from the Franklin County Regional Jail earlier Tuesday morning after his family posted bond.
At Bard’s preliminary hearing last week, the judge kept his bond set at $1 million but agreed to let him post 10 percent. This allowed his family to hand over $100,000 to ensure Bard showed up to court.
With no indictment returned, the case against Bard is effectively dismissed.
Copyright 2025 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Source link
