Home US The sheriff of the Georgia county where nursing student Laken Riley was “murdered by a Venezuelan migrant” campaigned to “not cooperate with ICE”

The sheriff of the Georgia county where nursing student Laken Riley was “murdered by a Venezuelan migrant” campaigned to “not cooperate with ICE”

by Jack
0 comment
In a 2020 interview with Athens Political Nerds, John Williams, then running for sheriff, said:

A resurfaced video of the now-sheriff of the county where Laken Riley was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela shows the law enforcement officer saying he does not plan to cooperate with ICE.

In a 2020 interview with Athens Political Nerds, John Williams, then running for sheriff, said, “It is not my intention, when I am elected sheriff, to cooperate with those detentions,” referring to the detentions imposed by ICE on illegal immigrants who have been arrested on criminal charges.

Athens-Clarke County residents are now pointing fingers at Williams after the murder of nursing student Laken Riley, 22, allegedly by Jose Ibarra, an illegal migrant from Venezuela.

In the interview, Williams says: ‘I see it as the sheriff’s responsibility to protect the community.

“We cannot help with a culture of fear in our community and expect our community to respond and help us in situations.”

The sheriff of the Georgia county where nursing student Laken

In a 2020 interview with Athens Political Nerds, John Williams, then running for sheriff, said, “It is not my intention, when I am elected sheriff, to cooperate with those detainees.”

Residents now glare angrily at Williams and his Democratic mayor after the brutal murder of the college-age nursing student.

Mayor Kelly Girtz was interrupted Wednesday morning while holding a briefing to discuss public safety in Athens after the nursing student was allegedly beaten to death by an undocumented migrant.

As he attempted to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd began yelling at the mayor.

A man in the crowd repeatedly shouted, “You’re a liar.”

And he added: ‘You are the culprit and you have blood on your hands for this murder, sir!’

‘Give up!’ others shouted.

Other protesters carried signs that read: “Blood on your hands” and “Make Athens safe again.”

Girtz repeatedly noted that Athens is not officially a sanctuary city, as Georgia does not allow it.

“There has been no legislation from this government that has created sanctuary city status,” he alleged.

“We deeply regret this tragedy… The responsibility for this crime lies solely with the perpetrator.”

Angry Athens residents booed their Democratic Mayor Kelly Girtz following the brutal murder of Laken Riley on the campus of George University.

Angry Athens residents booed their Democratic Mayor Kelly Girtz following the brutal murder of Laken Riley on the campus of George University.

Angry Athens residents booed their Democratic Mayor Kelly Girtz following the brutal murder of Laken Riley on the campus of George University.

As he attempted to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd began yelling at the mayor.

As he attempted to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd began yelling at the mayor.

As he attempted to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd began yelling at the mayor.

1709191279 227 The sheriff of the Georgia county where nursing student Laken

1709191279 227 The sheriff of the Georgia county where nursing student Laken

Police said Riley died from “blunt trauma” after being beaten and suffered a “disfigured skull.”

Neighbors of the complex claimed that their security cameras captured Ibarra throwing evidence into the building's trash container.

Neighbors of the complex claimed that their security cameras captured Ibarra throwing evidence into the building's trash container.

Neighbors of the complex claimed that their security cameras captured Ibarra throwing evidence into the building’s trash container.

While Athens is not a sanctuary city, meaning the government has not said it would not cooperate with the federal government to enforce immigration laws, police found multiple undocumented immigrants living in Ibarra’s apartment.

It is not clear how they were able to rent an apartment without official documents.

However, Ibarra’s brother, Diego Ibarra, has been arrested for obtaining a job with a fake green card.

Ibarra was arrested at his apartment complex near the running track near where Riley’s body was found last week.

Residents of the complex told NewsNation’s Alex Caprariello that their security cameras captured Ibarra throwing evidence into the building’s trash bin, which they turned over to police.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested at his apartment complex near the jogging track near where Riley's body was found.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested at his apartment complex near the jogging track near where Riley's body was found.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested at his apartment complex near the jogging track near where Riley’s body was found.

Riley's body was found the same day on campus, in a wooded area near Herrick Lake that includes trails popular with runners and walkers.

Riley's body was found the same day on campus, in a wooded area near Herrick Lake that includes trails popular with runners and walkers.

Riley’s body was found the same day on campus, in a wooded area near Herrick Lake that includes trails popular with runners and walkers.

Riley studied at the University of Georgia through spring 2023 before transferring to Augusta University School of Nursing.

Riley studied at the University of Georgia through spring 2023 before transferring to Augusta University School of Nursing.

Riley studied at the University of Georgia through spring 2023 before transferring to Augusta University School of Nursing.

“He was here at all hours of the day and night,” the neighbor said.

The complex is a former hotel converted into studio apartments and Ibarra is said to have lived in a unit with four or five other immigrants.

The 26-year-old has been charged in Riley’s murder with felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another person.

Ibarra is accused of using an unknown object as a weapon to kill the 22-year-old Augusta University student and preventing her from making a 911 call when he allegedly grabbed her between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 22.

Riley’s body was found the same day on the University of Georgia campus, in a wooded area near Herrick Lake that includes trails popular with runners and walkers. The student had gone jogging when she was allegedly attacked by Ibarra.

Police said Riley died from “blunt trauma” after being beaten and suffered a “disfigured skull.”

They added that Ibarra dragged her body to a secluded area to hide the death, according to an arrest affidavit seen by CBS News.

It has also now been revealed that police are refusing to release audio of the 911 call Laken made, but confirmed she was connected to a dispatcher before the call was disconnected and she was allegedly beaten to death.

Riley was out jogging on the University of Georgia campus when she was attacked.

Riley was out jogging on the University of Georgia campus when she was attacked.

Riley was out jogging on the University of Georgia campus when she was attacked.

Local police said Friday that Ibarra, who lived in Athens, apparently did not know Riley and acted alone. Campus security videos and other technology led officials to Ibarra.

On the day of the murder, her alleged killer uploaded a selfie to her TikTok account in which she looked at the camera and smiled.

Five months before Riley’s murder, Ibarra was arrested in New York City and charged with “acting in a manner to injure a child under 17 years of age and a driver’s license violation,” according to ICE.

The NYPD released him “before an arrest warrant could be issued,” the agency said.

Ibarra crossed into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, but had been released from a detention center due to lack of space.

You may also like