CRESTWOOD, Ky. — Kentucky State Police say a female student from an Ohio State University regional campus and a man suspected of abducting her both died after a police chase in Kentucky.
OSU President Dr. Michael Drake said the “senseless and shocking incident has left our campus shaken” in a written statement.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with Skylar Williams' family and friends. For those in need, support services are available.
— Michael V. Drake (@UCPrezDrake) February 12, 2019
Kentucky police responded to a call about a person in distress in a vehicle in Gallatin County on Monday and a chase began that continued south on I-71 to Oldham County, police said in a news release Tuesday.
Police said they intervened when the vehicle exited the highway and stopped on a ramp where a trooper heard gunshots from the vehicle and returned fire.
The release said Skylar Williams, a student at Ohio State’s Mansfield campus, was hit by at least one round and died.
The suspect also was killed. He was identified as 24-year-old Ty’rell Pounds of Mansfield, Ohio.
The university’s Department of Public Safety said in a news release that student Williams, 20, was in a parking lot at OSU’s Mansfield campus shortly before noon Monday when she was approached by a male suspect known to her.
The release says Pounds displayed a handgun, forced Williams into his vehicle and fled with her.
Police say Pounds is also suspected of stealing a Dodge Caravan at gunpoint Monday afternoon. It was not immediately clear if that was the vehicle involved in the pursuit and shooting.