The White House released a statement Monday regarding the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia campus in Athens.
“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Laken Hope Riley,” the White House press secretary told Fox News Digital. “If found guilty, people should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Given that this is an ongoing case, referrals should be made to state law enforcement and ICE.” Let’s go.”
UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark announced on February 23 that he had arrested Jose Antonio Ybarra, 26, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, on suspicion of killing him on the UGA campus while jogging Thursday morning. .
Clark said at a news conference Friday night that Riley died of blunt force trauma.
Jose Ibarra, the suspect in the Laken Riley murder, lived within a five-minute walk of the crime scene in Uga.
President Biden’s White House on Monday responded to the killing of Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley on Thursday’s UGA campus.
President Biden earlier said the country’s laws and resources “have not kept pace with our immigration system.”
“The situation is broken, and our politics have not been able to fix it,” the president said. “To my Republican friends on the Hill: Doing nothing is not an option. Compromise is part of the process.”
Georgia murder suspect identified as illegal immigrant
Jose Ybarra was originally taken into custody by UGA police on Friday in connection with Riley’s death, but is now believed to have no connection to the victim. (Clark County Sheriff’s Office)
FOX News Digital previously reported that Ybarra illegally crossed the United States and Mexico in El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 and was released on parole in the United States.
Neighbors said he then traveled to New York City and briefly lived with his wife, then came to Athens and lived on the south end of the UGA campus for about six months.
Laken Riley murder suspect’s brother fired from Uga city after presenting fake passport
Franco walks outside an immigrant shelter in Queens, New York City, on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Franco is the wife of Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of killing 22-year-old college student Laken Riley. (Brigitte Stelzer)
Ibarra is currently facing charges of: malicious murder, felony murder, felonious assault, felonious assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, interfering with a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
Her brother, Diego Ybarra, who is charged with green card fraud, was briefly employed at UGA as a dishwasher in one of the school’s cafeterias after submitting false documents. He was subsequently fired.
Georgia nursing student found dead on Uga campus, identified as Laken Riley
UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said police charged Jose Antonio Ybarra with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, interfering with a 911 call and concealing the death of another. He said he was prosecuted. (Fox News Digital)
In a statement to FOX News Digital, ICE confirmed that Jose Antonio Ybarra was encountered by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on September 8, 2022. ICE also confirmed that he was arrested by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). new york city police One year later, on September 14, 2023, he was “charged with causing injury to a child under 17 years of age and a motor vehicle license violation.”
Uga murder suspect’s brother charged with green card fraud
Laken Riley poses for a photo to post on Facebook. Riley, a nursing student, was found dead on the University of Georgia campus on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Alison Phillips/Facebook)
Riley’s family released a statement Saturday, calling the 22-year-old “a wonderful daughter, sister, friend, and overall great human being.”
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“Her love for the Lord was embodied in every aspect of her life. She will be missed every day, but we would like to honor her life as it moves forward in so many ways. We promise,” the statement shared with WXIA reads in part. “At this most difficult time, we ask that you please respect our privacy and allow us the time and space we need to grieve the life of her daughter, which was tragically cut short.”
Fox News’ Adam Shaw, Michael Ruiz and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
