A grand jury has decided not to indict a father charged with murder following a shooting at Kentucky State University that resulted in one student’s death and another being critically injured.

Scott Danks, the defense attorney for Jacob Lee Bard, shared the news on Facebook, stating that the grand jury opted against indicting Bard for the incident that occurred on December 9. Bard’s legal team argued that his actions were in self-defense, claiming that Bard shot the individuals who were attacking his son amid a crowd of 20-30 people.

“GRAND JURY FINDS JACOB ACTED IN SELF DEFENSE AND REFUSES TO INDICT,” Danks posted. “He’s out of jail and the case is over!”

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. (WDRB)

According to court records accessed by WDKY-TV, Bard’s bail, set at $100,000, was posted around 9:20 a.m. on December 23. The outlet also reported that the case against Bard is now concluded, and his bond will be returned.

Bard’s family, accompanied by two armed campus police officers, was moving his younger son out when the incident occurred, according to his attorneys. They also noted that the family decided to withdraw their two sons from the school after “multiple armed, violent” incidents against them and other students in the days leading up to Dec. 9.

Jacob Lee Bard, 48, was formally charged with murder and first-degree assault in the fatal shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Bard, of Evansville, Indiana, is the parent of another student at the school. (Franklin County Regional Jail; @Collins_Wx via Storyful)

When the family and an officer reached the dormitory entrance, a group of people in masks and hoods proceeded to rush out and begin violently attacking the family and others, attorneys said. During the attack, the assailants beat the son’s head against the pavement.

Violent threats against one of Bard’s sons allegedly began after he reported a burglary in his dorm room to campus police. Attorneys say that he is in an undisclosed location due to continued death threats.

Law enforcement responds to a shooting at Whitney Moore Young Jr. Hall on Kentucky State University’s campus in Frankfort, Kentucky, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (Hannah Brown/The State Journal via AP, File)

Kentucky State University told The Associated Press that the grand jury decision “does not lessen the pain our community continues to feel, nor does it change our priorities.”

“Our commitment remains centered on supporting our students and ensuring Kentucky State University is a safe place to learn, live, and work,” the university added.