Crime
Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 18-Year-Old Alfred Hale, Dunbar High School Student in Dayton
An arrest has been made in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Alfred Hale, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio.
Dayton police announced on Monday that a 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody following an extensive investigation that utilized advanced technological resources.
According to online jail records, Julius Maurice Williamson Jr., 23, was arrested by Dayton police on the morning of Saturday, April 6.
He is currently being held on suspicion of murder and a parole violation, though police have not yet formally released the suspect’s name or filed official charges.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 4, prompting a response from Dayton officers and medics to 27 S. Jefferson Street around 7:23 a.m.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered Hale suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, the teen tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims expressed sorrow over the loss, calling the incident a “senseless event” and emphasizing the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce violence.
“Incidents like this are exactly why we are involving the community in reducing violence and building a peaceful city,” Mayor Mims stated. “We have zero tolerance for violence in our neighborhoods, downtown, and across the city.”
Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence also issued a heartfelt statement following Hale’s death:
“The Dayton Public School District is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a 12th-grade student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Alfred Hale was a valued member of both the Dunbar family and the broader Dayton Public Schools community. He will be greatly missed by students, staff, and all who knew him.”
Dr. Lawrence added that a crisis support team was immediately deployed to the high school on Friday and will continue to be available to assist students in coping with the tragedy.
He also urged students in need of support outside school hours to contact the Montgomery County 24/7 Crisis Support Line at 833-580-2255.
The superintendent further shared that he would be visiting the Hale family personally, reiterating the school district’s commitment to working with the city and local organizations to address the root causes of youth violence.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Dayton Police.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.