Kentucky State Police held a news conference at 2 p.m. regarding the investigation into the shooting deaths of an OSU-Mansfield student and her alleged abductor in Oldham County, Kentucky on Monday.
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Ty’rell Pounds, 24, abducted Skylar Williams, 20, at gunpoint from the parking lot at Ohio State University’s Mansfield campus Monday morning at about 11:45 a.m., according to the OSU Department of Public Safety. Police say Pounds later abandoned his vehicle and stole a dark-colored Dodge Caravan at gunpoint.
At about 3:24 p.m., Kentucky State Police was contacted by dispatch in reference to a 911 call from a witness, according to a news release from KSP. The witness said they saw a distressed woman at a gas station that was forced into a vehicle by a man. The caller said it appeared the woman was asking for help. The vehicle then sped off, traveling towards Interstate 71 southbound. Troopers were dispatched to try to find the vehicle, which was described as a dark-colored Dodge Caravan.
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Authorities located the van, and after a police pursuit, it was stopped at an exit ramp on I-71. While attempting to apprehend Pounds, the trooper heard a gunshot coming from within the van, the release states. The trooper perceived the gunshot as a deadly threat to himself and the female passenger, later identified as Williams.
The trooper drew his service weapon and fired, the release states. Pounds was struck, resulting in his death at the scene, authorities said. During this event, Williams was struck by at least one round of gunfire, KSP stated.
Williams was taken by Oldham County EMS to the University of Louisville Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased by the Jefferson County Coroner.
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