CRESTWOOD, Kentucky — Kentucky State Police have identified two Mansfield people as the victims of a Monday afternoon shooting in Oldham County, Kentucky.
Authorities identified 24-year-old Ty’rell Pounds and 20-year-old Skylar Williams, both of Mansfield, as the victims of a shooting that occurred after a vehicular pursuit. Pounds was identified by Ohio State University Mansfield as the suspect in the alleged kidnapping of Williams from campus that took place just before noon.
According to a press release, at approximately 3:24 p.m. on Feb. 11, Kentucky State Police Post 5 dispatch was contacted by Gallatin County dispatch in reference to a 911 call from a witness, stating a distressed female was observed at a gas station that was forced into a vehicle by a male.
The 911 caller said the female was asking for help and that the vehicle then sped off traveling towards Interstate 71 southbound. Troopers from Post 5 were dispatched to attempt to locate the vehicle, which was described as a dark colored Dodge Caravan with a Quebec registration plate.
After a lengthy pursuit – including a failed traffic stop and the unsuccessful use of stop sticks – Kentucky troopers were joined by the Oldham County Police Department and the Oldham County Sheriff’s Office. Units from these agencies positioned themselves at the Pee Wee Valley exit ramp.
Pounds, the driver of the vehicle, crossed Highway 329 in Oldham County attempting to re-enter the interstate. Due to public safety concerns, the primary Kentucky State Police unit performed a legal intervention stop to prevent Pounds’ vehicle from re-entering the highway. The vehicle came to a rest on the ramp, and a trooper, unidentified as of Tuesday evening, attempted to apprehend the subject.
Authorities stated that while attempting to apprehend the suspect, the trooper heard a gunshot coming from within the vehicle which he perceived as an immediate and deadly threat to himself and the female passenger, Williams. The trooper drew his service weapon and fired, at which time the suspect (Pounds) was struck, resulting in his death at the scene.
During this event, the female passenger (Williams) was struck by at least one round of gunfire. Williams was transported by Oldham County EMS to the University of Louisville Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by the Jefferson County Coroner.
The investigation is being led by the Kentucky State PolCritical Incident Response Team. Kentucky State Police was assisted by the Oldham County Police Department, Oldham County Sheriff’s Office, Oldham County EMS and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.
The Ohio State University President Michael Drake issued a statement on Tuesday evening addressing the death of Williams.
“Our Ohio State community suffered a tragic loss with the death of Mansfield student Skylar Williams,” Drake said. “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.”
Additional counseling and consultation services have been made available to members of the university community in need of support on the Mansfield campus. Mansfield students can utilize the Student Assistance Program and support services are also available to students, faculty and staff across the university.
Law enforcement continues to investigate all circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 419-756-2222.
On Monday afternoon, The Ohio State University at Mansfield posted a notice on its website that Williams was forced into a car at gunpoint while standing in a parking lot on campus at approximately 11:45 a.m.
According to a Mansfield Police report filed on Monday at 1:56 p.m., Pounds’ roommate reported Pounds and Williams were at his Wood Street apartment. The roommate stated Williams wasn’t hurt, but she was crying. The roommate noted Pounds had a gun and was very serious. He took his keys and his phone and allegedly stole his vehicle.
The roommate said he knew Pounds was going through custody issues with Williams and the two left before the roommate could get dressed. The roommate went to a friend’s house to call police but they were already there when he arrived.
According to Pounds’ Facebook page, he graduated from North Central State College in April 2018. He was a Mansfield Senior alumnus.
Williams’ Facebook page said she attended Mansfield Senior and Madison. She was studying physical therapy at OSU-Mansfield.
