After Kentucky State University student De’Jon Fox Jr. was fatally shot by his classmate’s father, the victim’s parents are now facing criminal charges after they allegedly intimidated their son’s shooter.
De’Jon Fox, Sr., and Chardnae Cleveland were both charged with intimidation, according to Indiana online court records. WTHR reported that the duo are the parents of De’Jon Jr., who was killed at the age of 19 on December 9 on the Kentucky State University campus.
The intimidation charges stem from alleged threats that the two made against Jacob Bard, who was initially charged with the murder of their son, according to court records viewed by WTHR, WDRB and LEX18.
Bard was on the school’s campus to help his sons, who were students at the university, move out after they experienced issues with some of their classmates. Bard was arrested after authorities said he fatally shot De’Jon Jr. and wounded another student while at the college’s residence hall.
After the shooting took place, De’Jon Sr. allegedly wrote in a comment on Facebook, “YOU WILL FEEL THE SAME HURT I FEEL.” The comment was seemingly in reference to Bard.
Meanwhile, Cleveland has also been accused of writing concerning things about Bard. “I want his son dead just like mine,” one of her alleged posts read, according to the affidavit.
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Both De’Jon Sr. and Cleveland were arrested and have since been released from jail on bond. It is not currently clear if either person has entered a plea or if they have obtained legal representation.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment.
Two weeks after the incident took place, a grand jury ultimately declined to indict Bard during a hearing on December 23. The decision came after his attorney, Scott Danks, argued that his client had acted in self-defense, according to the Associated Press. The outlet also reported that Bard’s attorney claimed his client only fired his gun after 20 to 30 people had gathered to attack his family.
The attorney claimed that Bard was at the campus to help his two sons move out of their dorms after they were withdrawn from campus following “multiple armed, violent” incidents against them, per the outlet.
“Jacob’s actions were absolutely justified under the law and were the only measure that prevented his son’s death or serious injury,” Bard’s attorney argued during the hearing.
Following the jury’s decision, Bard was released from prison and the charges against him were dropped.
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Kentucky State University issued a statement to the campus community following the ruling, saying that the grand jury’s 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 statement added.
The shooting involving Bard was the second to take place near the residence hall in four months. On August 17, someone fired multiple shots from a passing vehicle that struck two people who weren’t students at the university, according to the Associated Press.
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