University of Georgia police are obtaining arrest warrants for Jose Antonio Ibarra as the main suspect in the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, according to UGA Chief of Police Jeff Clark.
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, according to Clark.
Evidence suggests that this was a “crime of opportunity,” Clark said, and that Riley did not have a relationship with Ibarra. Clark also said Ibarra does not have an extensive criminal history.
“This was a very isolated incident,” Clark said. “This was an individual who woke up with bad intentions.”
Ibarra has an apartment in Athens, Georgia, but he is not a U.S. citizen. He will be transported to Clarke County Jail, and his apartment is undergoing a search warrant.
Ibarra was arrested based on “robust” evidence, Clark said, including input from the community, physical evidence, “expert” police work and video footage from campus security cameras. A few hours earlier, the University of Georgia Police Department (UGAPD) announced the suspect was taken into custody and underwent questioning.
Clark said that evidence suggested this was a solo act but that multiple people were taken into custody. Clark also said that police would make only one arrest.
UGAPD reassured that there are no indications of a continuing threat. There had not been a homicide on campus in nearly 30 years prior to Riley’s murder, Clark said at Friday’s press conference.
UGAPD is still collecting evidence. Anyone with any information related to this investigation should immediately contact UGAPD at (706) 542-2200.
This article comes to Now Habersham in partnership with The Red & Black
