(NewsNation) — The parents of a student who was fatally shot on the campus of Kentucky State University earlier this month were taken into custody in Indiana after reportedly turning themselves in to police on Christmas Day.
Chardnae Cleveland and De’Jon Darrell Fox were each charged with intimidation in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, on Dec. 23, according to court records obtained by NewsNation local affiliate WDKY. Both were released after posting $1,500 cash bonds on Dec. 26.
Records show arrest warrants were issued on Dec. 23 and served on Christmas Day, the outlet reported.
Court documents indicate that following the death of their son, 19-year-old De’Jon Fox Jr., police ordered additional patrols for Cleveland and Fox Sr. “due to the circumstances and fear of retaliation.”
An affidavit obtained by WDKY cites several alleged social media posts by the parents that referenced a “prominent criminal street gang” in the Evansville area.
Officials described the posts as “concerning,” allegedly implying “intent for violent reaction toward the family of Jacob Bard.”
Bard, a parent of two students at the university, was arrested in connection with the Dec. 9 shooting. However, a grand jury declined to push forward the murder and first-degree assault charges on Tuesday.
“After hearing all the evidence, the Grand Jury found Jacob Bard acted in self-defense and refused to indict him on any charges. We are thrilled that Jacob is now with his family and his name is cleared,” Jonathan A. Danks, an attorney representing Bard, told NewsNation in a statement.
Defense attorneys argued Bard was “completely justified under the law” in using deadly force. They said Bard’s two sons had faced multiple alleged attacks and armed threats in the days leading up to the incident. Attorneys claimed that Bard had repeatedly sought help from campus police and university officials, but that they did not take sufficient action to protect his children.
On the day of the shooting, Bard was trying to remove his children from the school but was attacked in the process, which led him to open fire in defense of his kids, according to the attorneys.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali contributed to this report.