Georgia police have arrested a non-citizen immigrant suspected in the murder of a nursing student, and he had previously been released over a “lack of detention space,” according to one report.
22-year-old Laken Riley was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing and went out for a jog on Thursday but didn’t return home. Her roommate called police to report her missing.
At about 12:30, police found her body beaten to death on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens and later confirmed that she had died of blunt force trauma.
On Friday, University of Georgia Police Department Chief Jeff Clark told reporters at a media briefing that they had arrested 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra in the murder.
“He did not know her at all,” said Clark. “I think this was a crime of opportunity.”
Clark said that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen and appears to be an immigrant from Venezuela. The man reportedly lived in an apartment building near the location where the woman’s body was found.
He went on to say that police used surveillance video and physical evidence in order to identify Ibarra as a suspect. They also conducted a search warrant at his home.
NewsNation reported that multiple sources from the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Ibarra was from Venezuela and that he had been released due to lack of detention space.
Clark said that Ibarra was charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another. He was booked into the Clarke County Jail.
Police said the murder on the campus was the first in at least 30 years.
Here’s more about the development:
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!