Crime
7-year-old Oaklynn Alexander found safe, suspect Charles Alexander killed in officer-involved shooting in Medina
The 7-year-old girl was immediately taken into protective custody at the scene and reunited with her family.
A statewide Amber Alert ended in tragedy Monday night when a 43-year-old suspect was fatally shot in an “officer-involved shooting,” according to the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities confirmed that the 7-year-old girl, Oaklynn Alexander, who had been abducted earlier in the day was safely rescued and returned to her family.
The suspect, identified as Charles Ryan Alexander, the girl’s non-custodial father, reportedly took her from her home in Empire, Ohio, after an argument.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Alexander initially fled with the child in a Ford F-150 before switching to a U-Haul truck.
Law enforcement eventually tracked the U-Haul to Brunswick, Ohio, where Brunswick police first located the vehicle around 8 p.m.
They attempted a traffic stop, but Alexander fled, leading authorities on a high-speed chase southbound on I-71 toward Medina County.
The chase concluded when Alexander pulled into a parking lot off SR-18 in Medina Township.
Officers and deputies surrounded the vehicle and attempted to negotiate with Alexander, who was reportedly armed and speaking with dispatch centers by phone.
Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation, the standoff ended in gunfire, resulting in Alexander’s death.
The 7-year-old girl was immediately taken into protective custody at the scene and reunited with her family.
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are now conducting a thorough investigation into the events surrounding the shooting and the Amber Alert.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. — Authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting reported in Glen Burnie, Maryland, after an incident in which a suspect allegedly crashed a vehicle into a law enforcement agent.
Preliminary reports indicate that one suspect sustained a gunshot wound and was transported under a Priority B medical status.
Emergency medical services also responded to assist a law enforcement agent who reported neck pain; a second EMS unit was requested to provide additional medical evaluation and care.
The circumstances leading up to the shooting, including what prompted the vehicle collision and the use of force, have not yet been fully detailed by authorities.
Police have confirmed that the scene was secured, and standard investigative protocols for officer-involved shootings have been initiated.
No further information regarding the identities of those involved or the suspect’s condition has been released at this time.
Officials stated that additional details will be provided as the investigation continues.