PHOTOS: Hundreds honor Laken Riley with 5K, memorial on UGA campus

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Hundreds of people honored Laken Riley on Saturday at the University of Georgia’s campus, nearly two years after the nursing student was killed. Riley’s death occurred on Feb. 22, 2024, near wooded trails at the UGA intramural fields. Her killer, Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who unlawfully entered the United States in 2022, was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in November 2024.

Allyson Phillips (center), Laken Riley’s mother, prays at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for her daughter. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Lauren Phillips (right), Laken Riley’s younger sister, speaks at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Macy Rutledge, one of the event’s organizers, holds Phillips’ hand. Phillips recalled her sister’s warmth and religious faith and described how Laken inspired her. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

People gather at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, for a memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Derek Anglin, lead pastor of NewGrace Church in Commerce, Ga., leads a worship service at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a memorial for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Anglin’s sermon “Run for Your Life” inspired the memorial event’s title. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson (center), speaks with Laken Riley’s family at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, after a memorial service for Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention without bond of people without citizenship who are charged with minor theft or shoplifting or for crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury, including driving under the influence. José Ibarra, who was convicted of killing Laken Riley, had previously been charged with shoplifting in New York. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson (center), speaks
at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Collins sponsored the Laken Riley Act, which requires detention without bond of people without citizenship who are charged with minor theft or shoplifting or for crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury, including driving under the influence. José Ibarra, who was convicted of killing Laken Riley, had previously been charged with shoplifting in New York. Nick Kammerzell (right), president of UGA’s Young Americans for Freedom, interviewed Collins. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Derek Anglin, lead pastor of NewGrace Church in Commerce, Ga., speaks at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Anglin’s sermon, “Run for Your Life,” inspired the memorial event’s title. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Singers and musicians from NewGrace Church in Commerce, Ga., perform at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA.
(C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Allyson and John Phillips, Laken Riley’s mother and stepfather, speak on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a 5K walk/run and memorial service for their daughter on the UGA campus. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA before transferring to Augusta University and was an avid runner.(C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Lauren Phillips, Laken Riley’s younger sister, speaks at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Phillips recalled her sister’s warmth and religious faith and described how Laken inspired her. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners gather in the parking lot of UGA’s Tate Student Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, before a 5K walk/run and memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners bow their heads on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, before a 5K walk/run and memorial service on the UGA campus for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Jonathan Jackson, worship and student pastor at NewGrace Church in Commerce, Ga., gives a blessing in the parking lot of UGA’s Tate Student Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, before a 5K walk/run and memorial service for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners cross the finish line on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a 5K walk/run and memorial service at UGA for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners come out of the gate on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a 5K walk/run and memorial service at UGA for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners near the finish line on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a 5K walk/run and memorial service at UGA for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

Runners celebrate at the finish line on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at a 5K walk/run and memorial service at UGA for Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. Riley had previously attended UGA and was an avid runner. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

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Allyson Phillips (center), Laken Riley’s mother, prays at UGA’s Tate Plaza on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during a memorial service for her daughter. Riley was attacked on Feb. 22, 2024 while running in Oconee Forest Park on the UGA campus and killed. (C.J. Bartunek for the AJC)

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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

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