Killing of Laken Riley

Killing of Laken Riley
Undated photo of Laken Riley
LocationUniversity of Georgia—Oconee Forest Park, Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Coordinates33°55′40″N 83°22′22″W / 33.9279°N 83.3728°W / 33.9279; -83.3728
DateFebruary 22, 2024
9 a.m.—1 p.m (EST)
Attack type
Homicide by blunt trauma and asphyxiation
VictimLaken Riley
MotiveUnknown
AccusedJosé Antonio Ibarra
Charges

On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student,[2] was killed while she was jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.[3] Her body was found in Oconee Forest Park near Lake Herrick;[4] her death was caused by blunt force trauma and asphyxiation.[2][5]

The suspect, José Antonio Ibarra, is a 26-year-old Venezuelan who had entered the United States illegally.[6] He was arrested by UGA police and has been charged with 10 charges, including felony murder, malice murder, false imprisonment aggravated assault with intent to rape and kidnapping.[7][8][5] He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.[9] The trial is expected to take place on November 18, 2024.[10]

The killing of Riley made international news, generating extensive media attention.[11] It sparked a debate over immigration in the United States after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and was caught crossing the border but was released into the United States.[3] 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.[12]

  1. ^ Sayers, Devon; Levenson, Eric (May 31, 2024). "Man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley indicted on murder and 'peeping Tom' charges". CNN.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ Mayorquin, Orlando; Fadulu, Lola; Ortiz, Aimee (February 22, 2024). "Suspect Is Arrested in Killing of Woman on U. of Georgia Campus". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Deliso, Meredith (May 8, 2024). "Grand jury indicts Laken Riley murder suspect on 10 counts". ABC News.
  6. ^ Groves, Stephen (March 7, 2024). "House Republicans push bill to detain migrants accused of theft after Georgia student killed". AP News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Mascaro, Lisa; Groves, Stephen (March 8, 2024). "Biden says her name — Laken Riley — at the urging of GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene". AP News. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Man accused of killing nursing student Laken Riley pleads not guilty in Georgia court". CBS News. May 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Deliso, Meredith (August 2, 2024). "Murder trial for suspect accused of killing Laken Riley expected to begin Nov. 18". ABC News.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference CNNMar7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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