HOUSTON, United States

An undocumented Venezuelan immigrant convicted of killing nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole.​​​​​​

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was convicted of three counts of felony murder, with other charges of malicious murder, kidnapping with bodily harm, aggravated assault with intent to rape and being a forgetting Tom with the look.

Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University nursing student, was killed Feb. 22 by Ibarra while running on the University of Georgia campus in the city of Athens — 70 miles east of Atlanta.

“There is no end to the pain, suffering and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure,” Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, told the judge before Ibarra’s verdict was read. “On that terrible day, my precious daughter was attacked, beaten and shown no mercy. She fought (for) her life and dignity and to save herself from being brutally raped.”

“This sick, twisted, evil coward showed no regard for Laken or human life,” Phillips said. “We demand that the same be done to him.”

Riley’s killing drew national attention to the immigration debate after officials announced that Ibarra was a Venezuelan national who entered the country illegally at the US-Mexico border in 2022.

President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Party used Riley’s death as part of their campaign rallying cry during the presidential election to call for stricter immigration policies at the southern border.

Trump expressed his opinion on social media shortly after Ibarra’s verdict was handed down.

“JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “The outlaw who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all charges for his horrific crimes.”

“While the pain and heartbreak will last forever, we hope this can help bring peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice and ensure other families don’t have to go through what they have,” said Trump. “We love you Laken and our hearts will always be with you. It’s time to secure our Border and remove these criminals and thugs from our country so nothing like this can happen again!”

Ibarra waived his right to a jury trial and did not testify in his own defense.

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