Students, friends, and colleagues held a memorial service and candlelight vigil for a recently deceased University of Kentucky student Monday.
UK’s Memorial Hall was packed with people Monday night as staff of the Kentucky Kernel, the campus newspaper, paid their respects to Jonathan Krueger. The UK Junior, shot and killed Friday night during a robbery on East Maxwell, served as the paper’s photo editor. Many of Krueger’s fellow journalists spoke in his memory, including Assistant Sports Editor Kevin Erpenbeck. He said Krueger’s death was like the loss of a family member.
“He’s a photographer and a student, a friend and a colleague and a brother and a son, and he’s also a mentor and a teacher I know to many of the photographers that we have on our staff, the young ones, but all those things boil down to one simple thing; he was family,” he said.
Following the service, attendees marched outside to the Memorial Hall amphitheater. Candles in hand, they held a silent vigil for their fallen friend. In addition, the Kentucky Kernel has set up a scholarship fund in his honor.
An Active Case
Lexington police have arrested a third person in the fatal shooting of a University of Kentucky student last week.
A news release from city government said a 17-year-old was charged Monday with murder, robbery and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the shooting early Friday.
Police said they don't expect more arrests in the case.
Earlier Monday, two men pleaded not guilty in the death of 22-year-old Jonathan Krueger, who grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio. The Lexington Herald-Leader said 18-year-old Justin D. Smith and 20-year-old Efrain Diaz appeared briefly via video link from jail Monday. Their lawyers entered the not guilty pleas during the appearance.
Smith and Diaz are charged with murder and robbery, and Smith is also charged with tampering with evidence.
