The illegal Venezuelan migrant charged in the shocking slaying of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley “shouldn’t have even been here,” her outraged friend said.
Riley, a 22-year-old student at Augusta University, was killed on Feb. 22 while jogging on the nearby University of Georgia campus.
Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen who entered the United States illegally in 2022, is being held without bond on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, kidnapping and other counts.
The suspect, who did not know Riley, never should’ve been able to carry out the alleged attack on the beloved student, former classmate and friend Callie Irvin told The Post.
“I think it’s starting to set in what really happened,” Irvin said Friday. “We were shocked and really sad. It was totally unexpected.
“But now there’s anger. At least I can say that I’m angry.”
Irvin said she and others close to Riley were livid that Ibarra, who lived in Athens, Ga., had been allowed to stay in the United States after entering the country illegally two years ago.
“People are really starting to question why this was allowed to happen,” she continued. “None of us is looking to make this into a political thing. That’s not who Laken was.
“But the facts are the facts. He shouldn’t have been allowed to do this. He shouldn’t have even been here.”
Riley, whose death took center stage during Thursday’s State of the Union speech, didn’t return home from a run last month, prompting friends to call authorities.
UGA police later found her body, which was “seriously” disfigured, as was her skull, according to affidavits.
Follow along with The Post’s coverage of Laken Riley’s murder
“I think as time goes on, the shock will wear off, and we’re all going to get really mad,” Irvin said. “Because this was senseless and should have been prevented.”
Riley’s mother, meanwhile, said the slaying has shattered her family.
“We will forever be grateful for the hard work, love, support, prayers and effort they all put into helping us navigate this tragic time,” Allyson Phillips wrote to pastors in a Facebook post days after her daughter’s celebration of life at Woodstock City Church.
“Laken loved to invite people to go to church with her and share her faith,” her devastated mom wrote. “Her love for our Lord, Jesus was infectious and helped many people develop or expand their relationship with our Lord and Savior.”
Riley “knew Jesus personally” and will “live eternally,” Phillips insisted.
“He never left her side until the very last second she was here on earth and He will take care of her now and forever in heaven,” Phillips’ post continued.
“I find peace during this devastation in knowing that.”
