In a recent rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center in Atlanta, former President Donald Trump blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. The 22-year-old was killed by Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant living in the US illegally. Ibarra faces ten charges, including malice murder and kidnapping with bodily injury, for Riley’s death.
— Bilbro Braggins (parody) (@Jbanklestankle1) August 2, 2024
During his speech on July 3, Donald Trump stated, “Laken’s blood is on Kamala Harris’ hands.” He accused Harris of allowing Ibarra into the country, saying, “Kamala Harris let in the savage monster who killed Laken Riley.” Trump further added, “Kamala is responsible for the death as though she were watching it herself.” Riley, a nursing student at the University of Augusta, was attacked and killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus on February 22. Her body was discovered in a wooded area near Lake Herrick.
In September 2022, Ibarra illegally entered the US through El Paso, Texas, and was released after a day in custody. Authorities later linked him to the Venezuelan gang El Tren de Aragua. Trump criticized Harris, stating, “Kamala Harris should not be asking for your vote, she should be begging Laken Riley’s family for forgiveness.” The crowd responded with cheers.
Police reports confirmed Riley died from “blunt force trauma.” Following her death, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., disclosed on social media that the Department of Homeland Security informed him that Ibarra was paroled into the US due to capacity issues at the Central Processing Center in El Paso, Texas. Graham wrote on X, “DHS just confirmed to me that the man charged with Laken Riley’s murder was paroled into the U.S. illegally, ‘due to detention capacity at the Central Processing Center in El Paso, Texas.’”
Graham criticized the parole decision, stating, “He wasn’t granted parole because he provided a significant benefit to the country or that he had a humanitarian need, as the law requires. The Biden Administration is breaking the law at the expense of innocent Americans.”
Ibarra faces multiple charges, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another person.
