Nation Shouts: Justice for Laken Riley

The news of Laken Riley’s untimely death on the University of Georgia’s (UGA) campus has sparked substantial conversations surrounding collegiate student safety, immigration policies, and university policies. On February 22nd, 2024, Riley was found dead near the Campus’s Intramural Fields in a wooded area by Lake Herrick. The murder suspect was identified as Jose Antonio Ibarra, who faced state charges for malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another. Ibarra has since been convicted.

UGA campus police responded to the scene around 12:20 PM following a call from a close friend of Riley’s when she reportedly did not return from her morning run. She was located shortly after and pronounced dead at the scene. 

A graduate of UGA class of ‘23, Riley was continuing to pursue a nursing degree at Augusta Medical College’s campus in Athens. She was 22 years old. Friends and family of the victim describe her to be an “amazing daughter, sister, friend and an overall extraordinary person”. She was reported to be an active community member, participating in greek life on campus and her community churches, Woodstock City Church and Watkinsville First Baptist Church. 

In the past week since Riley’s murder, social media conversations surrounding the homicide have had a reach of 11.4 billion. X has held the majority of conversations surrounding the topic. The total number of mentions is currently at 1.25 million, with the second most mentions occurring on February 24th, 2024 totalling 285,768 thousand. The most mentions about the topic occurred on February 28th, 2024 with 308,978 thousand when new information was released about the investigation. The University of Georgia and Augusta University canceled classes on Friday following the news. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has created a great deal of conversation about the topic. In his post expressing condolences for Riley’s family, he also mentions immigration policies from our nation’s administration to be part of the reason for her loss. Individuals have taken both sides arguing for and against his commentary. 

Additional commentary about the homicide surrounded new information released on the events that occurred during the attack. From affidavits and police reports, conversations on social media were at their highest yesterday in discussion of these updates. According to reports published by the Athens-Clarke County police about the investigation, it was identified that Laken Riley did attempt to call the police during her attack and was connected with a dispatcher. Local police have declined to provide the audio of the phone call.

Overall, social media conversations, despite their political orientations, agree on one thing. It shouldn’t have happened. As the nation rallies behind Laken and friends and family mourn her death, promises of honoring her life have emerged. See Laken Riley’s obituary here: https://www.poolefuneralhome.net/obituaries/laken-riley

Author: Lexi Merriman