OSU-Mansfield student, abductor shot to death in Kentucky

MANSFIELD — UPDATE @ 4:45 p.m.:

A student at the Ohio State University Mansfield campus who was abducted Monday from a campus parking lot and her abductor were shot to death in Kentucky after a police chase ended in gunfire.

Skylar Williams, 20, of Mansfield, was in a campus parking lot around 11:45 a.m. Monday when the suspect, identified as Ty’rell Pounds, 24, also of Mansfield, approached her, showed a handgun and forced her into his vehicle and drove away. Pounds’ vehicle was found after he stole a dark colored Dodge Caravan with a Quebec license plate.

Kentucky State Police responded around 3:30 p.m. Monday to a 911 call in Gallatin County about a woman who asked for help at a gas station and was forced into a vehicle. The vehicle, which matched the description of the minivan, then sped off towards south Interstate 71, according to a KSP release.

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Troopers spotted the vehicle in Henry County and tried to pull it over, but the driver did not stop and continued into Oldham County. Tire deflation devices also did not work to stop the vehicle. In Oldham County, troopers, the Oldham County Police Department and Oldham County Sheriff’s Office positioned themselves at the Exit 14 Pee Wee Valley ramp.

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The suspect exited there, then crossed Highway 329 and tried to re-enter the highway. However, law enforcement “performed a legal intervention stop” to prevent it from doing so and the vehicle stopped on the ramp.

A trooper then tried to apprehend the suspect, when he heard a gunshot coming from inside the minivan. The trooper drew his service weapon and fired, striking and killing the suspect. During this event, Williams was struck by at least one round of gunfire. It was not clear whether she was shot by Pounds or struck with bullets directed at Pounds. Williams was taken to the University of Louisville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Kentucky State Police said there is no footage of the shooting because troopers do not wear body cameras.

FIRST REPORT

A student at the Ohio State University Mansfield campus was abducted Monday from a campus parking lot according to the school’s department of public safety and our media partners at WBNS.

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The department said Skylar Williams was in the parking lot around 11:45 a.m. when the suspect, Ty’rell Pounds, approached her, showed a handgun, forced her into his vehicle and drove away.

As of Tuesday morning, Williams remains missing.

Pounds is known to Williams according to the department.

Pounds’ vehicle was located but the department said he stole another vehicle at gunpoint – a 2019 Dodge Caravan that is dark in color with a license plate of FMZ-9621.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 419-756-2222.

Police said people should not approach Pounds and he is believed to be armed and dangerous.