UGA Murder: Lawmaker Calls for Death Penalty, Citing Suspect's Illegal Status and Violent Past

Georgia State Representative Houston Gaines is pushing for the death penalty in the murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley, arguing that the suspect, Jose Ibarra, should not have been on the streets due to his illegal immigration status and history of violência.

Athens, Georgia - A grand jury has indicted Jose Ibarra, the suspect charged in the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Riley, on 10 counts, including malice murder. The indictment alleges that Ibarra, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, killed Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, while she was out for a run along dirt trails on the University of Georgia campus in Athens on February 22.

Ibarra is accused of causing Riley's death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and "asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors," the indictment states. He is also accused of kidnapping, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and obstructing or hindering a person from making a 911 call.

Georgia State Representative Houston Gaines, who represents the district where Riley was killed, is pushing for the death penalty in the case. He argues that Ibarra should not have been on the streets due to his illegal immigration status and history of violence.

"This suspect should not have been on the streets in the first place," Gaines said in an interview with Fox News. "He is an illegal immigrant who has a record of violent crime, and he should have been deported."

Gaines pointed to Ibarra's alleged involvement in a domestic violence incident in Athens last year, for which he was arrested and charged with assault.

Ibarra lived in an apartment building that sits on the edge of the on-campus park where Riley was running. The scenic loop Riley ran that morning is easily accessible from behind Ibarra's apartment complex. It is a five-minute walk from Ibarra's door to the approximate scene where Riley was found dead.

Following Riley's death, the University of Georgia announced that it has invested $16 million "over the last eight years to hire more police officers, install more security cameras, enhance lighting, establish a nightly rideshare program, and create a UGASafe app."

"But we are committed to doing even more," UGA said, adding that it also "approved an additional phase of lighting improvements and security camera installations" and "will continue to evaluate" safety measures.

In addition to being an illegal immigrant, Ibarra is also facing charges of green card fraud. Federal court documents allege that he had ties to a known Venezuelan gang in the U.S.

Ibarra's brother, Diego Ibarra, is also facing charges in connection with the case. He is accused of green card fraud and had ties to the same Venezuelan gang in the U.S.

The three brothers were living together in an apartment complex near UGA's campus. All three men were questioned and taken into custody after Riley's murder.

The case has raised concerns about the safety of students on college campuses and the need for increased security measures.