Police arrest suspect in killing of Laken Riley at the University of Georgia

Georgia police on Friday took a suspect into custody in the killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student whose body was found in a wooded area on the University of Georgia's main campus in Athens.

The suspect, identified as Athens resident Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was identified by video from campus security and other technology, according to police. The body of Riley was found near running trails Thursday, launching a highly visible police investigation that centered on an apartment complex just south of there.

Ibarra lived in one of the apartments, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark said in a Friday evening news conference. He said there is no ongoing threat to the community.

The evidence authorities have gathered in the case is robust, and they believe it was a “solo act” by Ibarra, according to Clark. He also said the investigation suggests that the suspect and victim had no relationship.

“This was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual, and bad things happened,” Clark said.

Riley, a former UGA student, was a junior at the Augusta University College of Nursing when she went missing Thursday after going for a run. A friend reported to UGA police around noon that Riley had not returned, sparking a search of the area near the campus' intermural fields, Clark said. Officers soon found Riley unconscious, not breathing and with "visible injuries" in a wooded area behind Lake Herrick, near several playing fields, tennis courts and miles of walking and biking trails.

Paramedics arrived and determined she was deceased at the scene, the chief said.

Ibarra faces charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another, according to Clark. Authorities were taking him to Athens-Clarke County Jail.

It wasn’t immediately known if Ibarra had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Clark said Ibarra doesn’t have an extensive criminal history and is not a U.S. citizen, but he did not know Ibarra’s immigration status.

Athens-Clarke County Corner Sonny Wilson told the Athens Banner-Herald, part of the USA TODAY network, an autopsy is underway at the state crime lab to determine the cause of death.

Classes canceled at UGA, Augusta University

There was another death investigated on UGA's campus at student dormitory on Wednesday, but Clark said foul play was not suspected and it was not connected with Thursday’s homicide case.

UGA canceled classes after 5:30 p.m. Thursday as well as those scheduled for Friday, a statement said. University officials encouraged students to use the facility's counseling and psychiatric services, citing the two unrelated death investigations.

“The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our University. Our student body is grieving the sudden death of one of our students in Brumby Hall last night,” the statement said. “And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today’s devastating news will uniquely test the resolve of our campus community, particularly our students.”

Classes at Augusta University's campus in Athens were canceled on Friday, according to a statement from Kell, university president, who said news of the student's death was "shocking."

Though classes were canceled, the Athens campus will remain open "as gathering place for students, faculty and staff to receive care and counseling as needed," the statement said. Counsels were on-site beginning Friday for College of Nursing students.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he and his family were “truly shaken and heartbroken” by Riley’s death.

“We will not rest until justice for Laken is secured,” the governor said.

Kelly Girtz, the mayor of the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, said in a statement on social media Thursday that he, along with his colleagues, is "in deep sadness over today's murder in our city."

"We promise to do everything possible to collaborate with UGA PD to bring this investigation to a rapid conclusion, and will continue to work overtime to prevent future tragedies," Girtz said.

First homicide on UGA grounds in decades

The homicide on campus grounds is the first since Jan. 8, 1996, when a newborn baby was slain inside the Oglethorpe House dormitory. That slaying remained unsolved until last year when UGA police announced they had identified the mother through DNA evidence as the killer. She committed suicide about eight years after the infant was slain, police discovered.

Another murder happened in 1983 when UGA student Donna Lynn Allen was fatally stabbed as she was walking to her car. A suspect was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder.

Two other unsolved slayings of UGA female students occurred off campus.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Police take suspect into custody in killing of Laken Riley on UGA campus