Crime & Safety

Abducted Ohio State Student Killed By Gun Fired By Suspect: Cops

A woman abducted from the Ohio State Mansfield campus was killed along with the man accused of abducting her in Kentucky.

OLDHAM COUNTY, KY — An Ohio State student abducted at gunpoint from the university's Mansfield campus and the man accused of abducting her were killed at the end of a police chase in Kentucky. The student was struck by a gun fired by her abductor and the suspect was killed in a police shooting, officials said.

The student, identified as Skylar Williams, 20, was abducted early Monday afternoon from the university campus as she was standing in a parking lot, according to Ohio State officials. The suspect, identified as Ty'rell Pounds, 24, reportedly displayed a handgun and forced Williams into his car before fleeing the area, officials said. Campus police said Pounds was known to Williams.

According to local news reports, Pounds was Williams' ex-boyfriend. News 5 Cleveland reported that in 2018, Williams filed for a restraining order against Pounds. A high school teacher of Williams recounted to the news channel that students told Williams at the time, "You should not be with him."

Find out what's happening in Columbuswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Authorities located the car Pounds fled in but later reported that he stole a car at gunpoint. The public was asked to be on the lookout for a dark colored 2019 Dodge Caravan.

Kentucky State Police said that around 3:24 p.m. on Monday, they received a dispatch in reference to a 911 call from a witness who said they saw a distressed woman at a gas station who appeared to be asking for help. Police said the witness said the woman was forced into a car by a man and the car sped off towards I-71. The car was described as a dark colored Dodge Caravan.

Find out what's happening in Columbuswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Troopers initiated a traffic stop in Henry County on a car that closely matched the description provided. The car did not stop and continued going southbound before entering nearby Oldham County, police said. The car continued to evade police and did not stop, police said. Troopers attempted to use stop sticks but were unsuccesful in stopping the car.

Police said the pursuit continued on I-71 southbound. In Oldham County, local and state law enforcement officials were positioned at an exit ramp. Police said the suspect exited the interstate at the ramp and crossed Highway 329, attempting to reenter the interstate.

Due to public safety concerns, troopers performed a "legal intervention stop" to prevent the car from re-entering the highway. Authorities tried to apprehend the suspect once the car came to rest on the ramp.

Authorities said a trooper fired at the car after hearing a gunshot from within the vehicle. Police said the trooper perceived it as an "immediate deadly threat to himself and the female passenger."

The suspect was struck and died at the scene, police said. The woman was struck by at least one round of gunfire and was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Kentucky State Police later confirmed that Williams was shot and killed by a gun carried by Pounds.

The suspect was identified as Ty'rell Pounds and the woman was identified as Skylar Williams, police said.

"Our Ohio State community suffered a tragic loss with the death of Mansfield student Skylar Williams," Ohio State President Michael V. Drake said in a statement.

"This senseless and shocking incident has left our campus shaken. We join Mansfield Dean Norman Jones in expressing our condolences and deepest sympathies. Our thoughts and prayers are with Skylar's family."

Photo via Ohio State Department of Public Safety


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.