By Harshit, 10 Dec, 6 AM EDT
FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY —
One student was killed and another remains in critical condition following a shooting at Kentucky State University on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said, sending shockwaves through the historically Black university just days before students were set to leave for winter break.
Police said a 48-year-old suspect from Indiana, who is not affiliated with the university, has been arrested and charged with murder and first-degree assault. The suspect was booked into the Franklin County Regional Jail shortly after the incident. Investigators are still working to determine the motive, and officials said the shooting does not appear to have been targeted.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. outside Whitney M. Young Jr. Residence Hall, a dormitory on the university’s campus, during finals week. Campus police responded immediately and took the suspect into custody within moments of the first gunfire, according to Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracy.
By the time officers from the Frankfort Police Department arrived—about four minutes after the first 911 call—the scene was already secured and the suspect had been arrested. The campus was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution, which was later lifted after authorities confirmed there was no ongoing threat.
“This was an isolated incident, and there is no further danger to the campus or the surrounding community,” Tracy said during a news conference Tuesday evening. He praised the rapid response of campus and local law enforcement, noting that their coordinated actions likely prevented additional casualties.
University spokesperson Michael DeCourcy told CNN that the second student who was shot remains in critical but stable condition. The identities of the victims have not been released out of respect for their families.
Kentucky State University President Koffi C. Akakpo described the shooting as a “senseless tragedy” that has deeply affected the campus community.
“As a parent, I cannot imagine receiving the call I placed today to the parents,” Akakpo said, visibly emotional. “Our students need prayers. Kentucky State University needs prayers.”
In response to the shooting, the university announced that all classes, final exams, and campus activities have been suspended for the remainder of the week. Students have been given the option to return home early, and university officials said additional guidance will be communicated in the coming days.
Counseling and mental health support services are being made available to students, faculty, and staff as the campus processes the trauma of the event. University leaders urged anyone struggling to seek help through on-campus and community resources.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear characterized the shooting as an isolated act of violence and offered his condolences to the victims and their families.
“My heart is with the Kentucky State University community during this painful time,” Beshear said in a statement. “We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement.”
Authorities confirmed that none of the campus police officers fired their weapons during the incident. The investigation is now being led by the Frankfort Police Department, with assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, and federal agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The shooting adds to a growing list of gun-related incidents on U.S. school campuses in 2025. According to a CNN analysis based on data from the Gun Violence Archive, Education Week, and Everytown for Gun Safety, the attack at Kentucky State University is the 73rd shooting on school grounds nationwide this year. The majority of these incidents have occurred at colleges and universities rather than K-12 schools.
Kentucky State University, chartered in 1886, serves more than 2,200 students and employs approximately 450 faculty and staff members. It is one of the nation’s recognized historically Black colleges and universities, institutions that have increasingly voiced concerns about campus safety amid a broader national debate over gun violence.
The incident also follows recent shootings at other HBCUs. In October, multiple people were injured in separate shooting incidents near campuses during homecoming weekends, including a shooting near Howard University in Washington, D.C., where five people were wounded, though none were students.
As the investigation continues, university officials say their focus remains on supporting the victims, their families, and the wider campus community.
“This is beyond terrible,” DeCourcy said. “Right now, our priority is care, compassion, and safety.”