Law enforcement responds to a shooting at Whitney Moore Young Jr. Hall on Kentucky State University’s campus in Frankfort. (AP) In a fatal shootout at the Kentucky State University (KSU) in US’ Frankfort, one person died and another remains in critical condition as students’ final exams of the semester were upended before they go on winter break, police said, BBC reported.
Frankfort’s police department said a suspect was in custody after the fatal shooting at the Kentucky university. The university campus was placed under lockdown as authorities said they were responding to “an active aggressor” on campus on Tuesday afternoon.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, while providing an update on the incident said, “The shooting that took place today at Kentucky State University appears to be an isolated incident – not a mass shooting. The suspect has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat. Two individuals were critically injured, and I am sad to share that one has now passed away.”
The shooting that took place today at Kentucky State University appears to be an isolated incident – not a mass shooting. The suspect has been arrested, and there is no ongoing threat. Two individuals were critically injured, and I am sad to share that one has now passed away.1/2 pic.twitter.com/4G1BgJNVQj
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) December 9, 2025
Beshear added, “Violence has no place in our commonwealth or country. Let’s please pray for the families affected and for our KSU students. Let’s also pray for a world where these things don’t happen. Thank you to our brave law enforcement who acted quickly to protect our people.”
The KSU campus police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and Frankfort Police Department responded to the shooting on the campus.
“The campus of KSU has been secured and a suspect is taken into custody,” law enforcement agencies posted in an update on Facebook. A university spokesperson said they were still gathering information related to the fatal shootout on the campus.
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Kentucky State University, a historically Black university, was established in 1886 and has a campus covering about 1,000 acres with over 2,200 students and 450 staff and faculty members, according to the university website.
Frankfort Assistant Chief of Police Scott Tracy told CNN that the shooting started around 3:35pm (local time) at Young Hall, a dorm on campus.
