On February 22, 2024, Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was found dead near Lake Herrick on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Athens, Georgia. Riley's cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma.

Following an investigation, authorities arrested José Antonio Ibarra, 26, in connection with Riley's murder. Ibarra, who is not a U.S. citizen or a UGA student, has been charged with two counts of felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.

According to UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark, there is no evidence that Ibarra knew Riley, and the incident is believed to have been a "crime of opportunity." The investigation involved community input, campus video footage, and physical evidence.

Riley was remembered by friends and classmates as a kind and devoted young woman. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a dedicated runner.

The discovery of Riley's body and subsequent arrest brought a climate of fear among some Hispanic students at UGA. Social media posts on platforms such as YikYak contained threatening and hateful messages targeting migrants and Latino students. The Hispanic Student Association and Latinos Invested in the Students of Tomorrow issued a joint statement condemning such rhetoric and calling for unity on campus.

In response to Riley's death, UGA implemented new safety measures, including increased lighting and funding for the campus police department. The university also announced a memorial service to honor Riley and a student who died by suicide earlier in the week.

The incident has sparked political debate, with some officials pointing to it as an example of the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border and the need for stronger immigration enforcement. Others have denounced the hateful rhetoric and threats against migrants and Latino students.