A suspect was arrested on Friday in connection with the death of a college student who vanished Thursday while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, authorities announced.
“A suspect in the murder of Laken Riley has been taken into custody by the University of Georgia Police Department,” university police said in a statement. “At this time, there are no indications of a continuing threat to the UGA campus related to this matter.”
Police later identified the suspect as Jose Antonio Ibarra, reports local outlets WGAU and WSB-TV.
He is expected to be charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, the outlets report.
Jose Ibarra’s criminal history
Few details about Ibarra were released during Friday’s press conference. Chief Clark said there was no clear history of violence for the 26-year-old murder suspect and his criminal history is not extensive.
Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen, but his status in the country could not be immediately verified. Investigators say he came from Venezuela but did not offer his current immigration status in the U.S.
Chief Clark said evidence found at the apartment appears to show Ibarra acted alone.
The chief called this a “very isolated incident,” adding that this is the first homicide at UGA in at least 30 years.
It is not clear when Ibarra will be making his first appearance on those murder charges.
Jose Ibarra’s brother arrested for having fake green card
Diego Ibarra, 29, of Venezuela, was one of the men questions in the death of Laken Riley on Friday, the Department of Justice revealed.
He is the older brother of Jose Ibarra.
The United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Georgia revealed the charges late Friday evening and said he will be prosecuted federally.
The elder Ibarra has a series of arrests in Athens, according to the DOJ.
