Sheriff of Georgia county where nursing student Laken Riley was 'murdered by Venezuelan migrant' campaigned on 'not cooperating with ICE'

A resurfaced video of the now-sheriff of the county where Laken Riley was allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant from Venezuela shows the law enforcement officer saying he does not plan on cooperating with ICE.

In a 2020 interview with Athens Political Nerds, John Williams, who was then running for sheriff, said, 'It is not my intention, when elected sheriff to cooperate with those detainers,' referring to the detainers placed by ICE on illegal migrants who have been arrested on criminal charges.

Residents of Athens-Clarke County are now pointing at Williams in the aftermath of the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley allegedly by Jose Ibarra, an illegal migrant from Venezuela.

In the interview, Williams says: 'I see it as the sheriff's responsibility to protect the community. 

'We can't help with a culture of fear in our community and expect our community to respond and help us in situations.'

In a 2020 interview with Athens Political Nerds, John Williams, who was then running for sheriff, said, 'It is not my intention, when elected sheriff to cooperate with those detainers'

Residents are now looking in anger at Williams and their Democratic mayor following the  brutal murder of the college-aged nursing student.

Mayor Kelly Girtz was interrupted on Wednesday morning as he held a briefing to discuss public safety in Athens after the nursing student was allegedly beaten to death by and undocumented migrant.

As he tried to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd started shouting at the mayor. 

A man in the crowd repeatedly shouted: 'You're a liar.'

He added: 'You're the one who is guilty and got blood on your hands for this murder, sir!'

'Resign!' others shouted. 

Other protesters held signs that read: 'Blood on your hands' and 'Make Athens safe again.'

Girtz repeatedly pointed out that Athens is not officially a sanctuary city, as Georgia doesn't allow them. 

'There's been no legislation from this government that’s created sanctuary city status,' he pleaded. 

'We are deeply sorry for this tragedy ... Responsibility for this crime rests solely upon the perpetrator.'

Furious residents of Athens heckled their Democratic mayor Kelly Girtz after the brutal murder of Laken Riley on the University of George campus

As he tried to deny that Athens is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants, the crowd started shouting at the mayor

Police said Riley died from 'blunt force trauma' after being beaten and that she suffered a 'disfigured skull'

Residents of the complex claimed that their security cameras captured Ibarra disposing of evidence in the building's dumpster

While Athens is not a sanctuary city, meaning the government has not said it would not cooperate with the federal government to enforce immigration laws, police found multiple undocumented immigrants living in Ibarra's apartment.

It's unclear how they were able to rent an apartment without official documents.

However, Ibarra's brother Diego Ibarra has been arrested for obtaining a job with a fake green card. 

Ibarra was arrested at his apartment complex near the running trail close to where Riley's body was found last week.

Residents of the complex told NewsNation's Alex Caprariello that their security cameras captured Ibarra disposing of evidence in the building's dumpster, which they turned over to police. 

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested at his apartment complex near the running trail close to where Riley's body was found

Riley's body was found the same day on campus in a forested area near Lake Herrick that includes trails popular with runners and walkers

Riley studied at the University of Georgia through the spring of 2023 before transferring to Augusta University’s College of Nursing

'He was out here all hours of the night and day,' the neighbor said.

The complex is a former hotel converted into studio apartments and Ibarra is said to have lived in one unit with four or five other migrants.

The 26-year-old has been charged in Riley's killing with felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another.

Ibarra is accused of using an unknown object as a weapon to kill the 22-year-old Augusta University student and preventing her from making a 911 call when he allegedly grabbed her between 9am and 1pm on Thursday February 22.

Riley's body was found the same day on the University of Georgia campus in a forested area near Lake Herrick that includes trails popular with runners and walkers. The student had been out jogging when she was allegedly attacked by Ibarra.

Police said Riley died from 'blunt force trauma' after being beaten and that she suffered a 'disfigured skull'.

They added that Ibarra dragged her body to a secluded area to conceal the death, according to an arrest affidavit seen by CBS News.

It has also now been revealed that police are refusing to release audio of the 911 call Laken made, but have confirmed she was connected to a dispatcher before the call was disconnected and she was allegedly beaten to death.

Riley had been out jogging on the University of Georgia campus when she was attacked

Local police said Friday that Ibarra, who lived in Athens, apparently did not know Riley and acted alone. Video from campus security and other technology led officials to Ibarra.

The day of the murder, her suspected killer uploaded a selfie onto his TikTok account in which he stared into the camera and grinned.

Five months before Riley's murder, Ibarra was arrested in New York City and charged 'with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation,' according to ICE.

The NYPD released him 'before a detainer could be issued,' the agency said.

Ibarra crossed into El Paso, Texas, in September 2022 but had been released from a detention center due to a lack of space.