Laken Riley was found dead after a concerned friend told UGA police she didn’t come home from a morning jog.
The University of Georgia Police Department has apprehended a suspect believed to be involved in the suspected homicide of a 22-year-old nursing student from Augusta University, whose body was discovered on the University of Georgia campus on Thursday.
According to UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark, Jose Antonio Ibarra has been charged with several offenses including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. Authorities have noted that the suspect is not a U.S. citizen.
Ibarra’s physical description provided by the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department indicates he is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 170 lbs. The victim, Laken, was reportedly 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 115 lbs, as stated in a report from the UGA Police Department.
“The evidence is substantial,” he informed reporters, acknowledging the role of campus security cameras in aiding the arrest.
Clark stated that he believed the attack was an act of opportunity and that the suspected perpetrator had no apparent connection to the victim. Additionally, he clarified that Ibarra is not enrolled as a student at UGA.
The investigators were initially unaware of Ibarra’s immigration status, the chief stated, mentioning that he believed the suspect is from Venezuela.
“At the moment, I don’t have all the details regarding his immigration status,” he said. “However, he is not a citizen of the United States.”
During the early stages of the investigation, police initially detained three to four individuals, but ultimately, only Ibarra was arrested and charged, Clark added.
Marty, the girls, and I were truly shaken and heartbroken to learn of Laken Riley’s tragic death.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) February 24, 2024
Tonight, we’re thankful the @GBI_GA, @accpolice, @universityofga police and other partners have taken her murderer into custody. We will not rest until justice for Laken is secured.
“While the legal status of the perpetrator remains uncertain, if the Chief’s statement is accurate and he is indeed a Venezuelan migrant, potentially admitted under the ongoing ‘special status’ program, it is high time to acknowledge the evident truth: Maduro is adopting tactics reminiscent of Castro’s regime by releasing criminals into the U.S., and we are inadvertently facilitating this process,” remarked Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector, to Fox News Digital.
Riley had previously been a student at UGA before enrolling in a nursing program at Augusta’s Athens campus, where she achieved Dean’s List status.
Police urged anyone who witnessed anything “relevant or suspicious” between 7 a.m. and noon on Thursday near UGA’s Intramural Fields and Lake Herrick to contact them at 706-542-2200.
It was at this location where Riley was discovered, showing “visible injuries,” within 30 minutes after authorities received a call from a concerned friend who reported she had gone for a run but hadn’t returned.
According to an incident report obtained by Fox News Digital, several officers initiated a search for Riley near the Intramural Fields around 12:07 p.m. At 12:38 p.m., a UGA police officer sighted her lying on the ground.
“I called out to Riley, but received no response,” noted the officer in the report.
She had visible injuries, and police were unable to detect a pulse. Despite this, they initiated CPR. Shortly after, a sergeant arrived with a defibrillator and made an unsuccessful attempt to revive the victim.
“Given the injuries and Riley’s condition, foul play was suspected,” stated the police report. Investigators were in the process of reviewing the officer’s bodycam footage for further evidence.
Autopsy results were still pending as of Friday, but authorities confirmed they were treating her death as a homicide. Clark stated that it appeared she had been killed by blunt-force trauma.
In response to the incident, classes and events at both universities were canceled on Friday.
Lake Herrick, situated within UGA’s campus and surrounded by various university practice fields and Oconee Forest Park, is currently under investigation. The lake features a pedestrian trail and a recreational beach. Authorities have advised the public to avoid the area during the investigation.
According to UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark, the last reported homicide on the campus occurred 20 years ago. Clark assured the public that there was no immediate danger on campus during a news conference on Thursday evening.