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On February 22, 2024, '''Laken Riley''', a 22-year-old nursing student at [[Augusta University]], was kidnapped and killed by illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra when she was jogging at the [[University of Georgia]] (UGA) in [[Athens, Georgia]]. Her body was found near a lake of a wooded area at UGA; her death was caused by [[Blunt trauma|blunt force trauma]].<ref name=":2">{{cite news |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of "disfiguring her skull," court documents say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-murder-suspect-jose-ibarra-disfiguring-skull/ |newspaper=[[CBS News]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032111/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-murder-suspect-jose-ibarra-disfiguring-skull/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Razek |first2=Raja |last3=Yan |first3=Holly |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Augusta University student killed while jogging at UGA honored at vigil as the suspect's immigration status fuels debate |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/25/us/uga-augusta-university-student-killing-monday/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032112/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/25/us/uga-augusta-university-student-killing-monday/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />
On February 22, 2024, '''Laken Riley''', a [[White people|White]] 22-year-old nursing student at [[Augusta University]], was kidnapped and killed by illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra when she was jogging at the [[University of Georgia]] (UGA) in [[Athens, Georgia]]. Her body was found near a lake of a wooded area at UGA; her death was caused by [[Blunt trauma|blunt force trauma]].<ref name=":2">{{cite news |date=February 27, 2024 |title=Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of "disfiguring her skull," court documents say |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-murder-suspect-jose-ibarra-disfiguring-skull/ |newspaper=[[CBS News]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032111/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley-murder-suspect-jose-ibarra-disfiguring-skull/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Razek |first2=Raja |last3=Yan |first3=Holly |date=February 26, 2024 |title=Augusta University student killed while jogging at UGA honored at vigil as the suspect's immigration status fuels debate |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/25/us/uga-augusta-university-student-killing-monday/index.html |newspaper=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032112/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/25/us/uga-augusta-university-student-killing-monday/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity".<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />


Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] citizen who entered the US illegally, was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Fortin |first=Jacey |date=February 28, 2024 |title=The Killing at U. of Georgia: What We Know |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/uga-nursing-student-death.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032112/https://www.nytimes.com/article/uga-nursing-student-death.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no date set for the trial.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] citizen who entered the US illegally, was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |last=Fortin |first=Jacey |date=February 28, 2024 |title=The Killing at U. of Georgia: What We Know |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/uga-nursing-student-death.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302032112/https://www.nytimes.com/article/uga-nursing-student-death.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no date set for the trial.

Revision as of 15:48, 8 March 2024

Killing of Laken Riley
Undated photo of Laken Riley
LocationDisappearance: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Body found: Lake Herrick, Athens, Georgia, U.S.
DateFebruary 22, 2024
Attack type
Murder by blunt trauma, kidnapping
VictimLaken Hope Riley
MotiveUnknown
AccusedJose Antonio Ibarra
Charges

On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a White 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was kidnapped and killed by illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra when she was jogging at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, Georgia. Her body was found near a lake of a wooded area at UGA; her death was caused by blunt force trauma.[1][2] The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity".[3][2]

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.[4] There is no date set for the trial.

The murder made international news, generating extensive media attention.[5] The murder sparked a debate over immigration in the United States after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and was caught crossing the border but was released into the United States.[2] On March 7, 2024, the House of Representatives passed an immigration bill named the Laken Riley Act, requiring federal detention of migrants who commit burglary or theft.[6] Riley was mentioned by President Joe Biden at his 2024 State of the Union address.[7]

Victim

Laken Hope Riley was born on January 10, 2002, to Jason Riley and Allyson Phillips. She was raised in Woodstock, Georgia, with her three siblings.[8] Riley graduated in 2020 from River Ridge High School, where she was a member of the cross country team.[9] Riley was an undergraduate student at University of Georgia and member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority,[10] until the spring of 2023 when she transferred to a nursing program at Augusta University.[4] At the time of her death, Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University.[2]

Killing

On the morning of February 22, 2024, Riley went for a morning run at UGA. Around 12:07 pm, a friend of Riley's reported her missing after she did not return.[11] Shortly before 1:00 pm, Riley's body was discovered by UGA police in a wooded area behind Lake Herrick.[12] Her death was caused by blunt force trauma, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner.[1][2]

The police described Riley's killing as a "crime of opportunity".[3]

Suspect

Jose Antonio Ibarra (born 1997–98) is a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen from Aragua, who had entered the United States illegally in 2022.[3][2] According to Jeffrey Clark, the chief of UGA police, Ibarra lived in an apartment complex about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the wooded area where Riley's body was found.[4] Ibarra had been previously arrested by both federal and state officials in multiple jurisdictions. He had a bench warrant issued for his arrest in December 2023 after failing to appear in court in a shoplifting case in Georgia.[13]

Authorities detained several people, but only Ibarra was arrested. Riley's murder is believed to have been a "solo act" by Ibarra. The charges against Ibarra are felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.[14]

Aftermath

Riley's family says they plan to establish a foundation in her honor. Her father said: "She will be missed every day, but we promise to honor her life moving forward in a very big way".[8]

The murder was highly publicized by the national media and the press.[5] Her murder became a "national political case" according to some American citizens and former U.S. president Donald Trump, after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that Ibarra was caught crossing the border but released back into the United States.[2][15]

Trump on Truth Social, posted: "Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens! The horrible murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley at the University of Georgia should have NEVER happened!"[16]

During the 2024 State of the Union address, Biden mentioned the killing of Laken Riley.[7] The unprepared remarks came after Taylor Greene shouted at the president to “say her name.”[17] Holding the “Say Her Name” pin, Biden called her “Lincoln Riley.” [18] Riley's parents, Jason Riley and Allyson Phillips, were also invited to the State of the Union by Georgia Congressman Mike Collins, but they turned down their invitation.[19]

Laken Riley Act

On March 7, 2024, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act in a 251-170 vote, with 37 Democratic members joining all Republican members in voting for the bill. The Laken Riley Act mandates federal detention of migrants who commit burglary or theft and allowed states to file suit against the federal government for failing to enforce immigration laws.[20][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Suspect in Georgia nursing student's murder is accused of "disfiguring her skull," court documents say". CBS News. February 27, 2024. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wolfe, Elizabeth; Razek, Raja; Yan, Holly (February 26, 2024). "Augusta University student killed while jogging at UGA honored at vigil as the suspect's immigration status fuels debate". CNN. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Rissman, Kelly (February 29, 2024). "What we know about Jose Antonio Ibarra, the man charged with murdering a Georgia nursing student". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Fortin, Jacey (February 28, 2024). "The Killing at U. of Georgia: What We Know". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Bennett, Brian (February 28, 2024). "Biden Touts Crime Record as Laken Riley Case Dominates Conservative Media". Time. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "House passes Laken Riley Act". CNN. March 7, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Samuels, Brett (March 7, 2024). "Biden spars with Greene over immigration, Laken Riley during State of the Union". The Hill. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Laken Riley: Funeral services for murdered nursing student". Fox 5 Atlanta. March 1, 2024. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Cavallier, Andrea (February 23, 2024). "A nursing student went for a morning jog on campus and never returned. Her body was found shortly after lunch later that day". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Kersh, Lilly; Mawn, Allison (February 23, 2024). "Student found dead on UGA campus identified as 22-year-old Laken Riley". The Red & Black. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Acosta, Nicole (February 23, 2024). "Suspect Arrested After Ga. College Student Who Went on Jog Was Found Dead". People. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Manins, Rosie (February 29, 2024). "Laken Riley case: Man charged in UGA campus killing won't seek bond". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Laken Riley case: Suspect had been arrested by federal, local authorities". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Lynch, Jamiel; Faheid, Dalia (February 29, 2024). "Suspect in University of Georgia killing didn't know victim and is not a student on the campus, police say". CNN. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Dorn, Sara (February 27, 2024). "What To Know About Laken Riley Murder: GOP Demands Details On Accused Killer's Immigration Status". Forbes. Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Amy, Jeff; Spagat, Elliot; Weissert, Will (February 27, 2024). "The killing of a Georgia nursing student is now at the center of the US immigration debate". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "'Lincoln Riley': Biden ridiculed for appearing to flub slain Georgia student's name". Fox News. March 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Full Transcript of Biden's State of the Union Speech". The New York Times. March 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "Laken Riley's parents turn down State of the Union invite". March 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "US House passes Laken Riley Act requiring ICE to detain more immigrants". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. March 7, 2024.
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