AP Gets Torched For Suggesting Laken Riley’s Murder Stemmed From ‘Female Athlete’ Dangers—Not Crime By Illegal Immigrants

Last Thursday, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was assaulted and murdered while jogging on a scenic campus area trail.

The story has garnered national attention—for the horrific nature of the crime and also because the suspect is an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.

The suspect, Jose Antonia Ibarra, reportedly benefitted from President Biden’s pro-Venezuelan immigration policies, was released when apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, and was released by New York City police after committing a violent crime, per city policy.

The New York Post reported Police charged Ibarra with “malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.”

ICE officials confirmed that Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and had previously been arrested for a violent crime in New York City.

Police noted that Ibarra did not know Riley and that her murder was malicious and random—perpetrated by a man “who woke up that morning intended to do something bad.”

Despite illegal immigration appearing to play a major factor in the tragic story of Riley’s death, the Associated Press profiled the tragedy by focusing on how women should take special precautions when jogging alone.

An excerpt from the article read: “Riley’s death has once again put the spotlight on the dangers female runners face. Previously, the 2018 death of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts while out jogging prompted an outpouring from other women who shared their tales of being harassed and followed.”

The outlet has been panned for making steps women should take to be safe, rather than the ramifications of illegal immigration, the focus of the story.

Adding fuel to the fires of criticism is that the AP report did not update their Saturday statement noting police officials did not know the suspect’s immigration status, even after ICE officials announced Ibarra is an illegal immigrant.

Stephen Miller, a contributing editor for The Spectator, mocked the AP report, saying they missed the mark.

Some have suggested that Biden administration officials, principally, Dept. of Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas, should be held responsible for Riley’s death.

Outkick writer Ian Miller wrote blasted the AP report saying:  “Ibarra is not merely an ‘Athens resident,’ and Laken Riley and every other student was put in danger by not enforcing laws and allowing a man arrested 3x after crossing the border to hang out and work on campus. He had to escalate to alleged murder to be held and/or risk deportation. Good policies. Good work. This story even cites the 2018 murder of Mollie Tibbetts in IA as a reason solo female runners should be worried, *also without noting her killer was an illegal immigrant.* Just stop lying!”

Miller added: “It really is jaw dropping how hard the media will work to avoid mentioning any aspect of a story that makes their political party or progressive ideology look bad.”

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