In Ohio, an Amber Alert for a 7-year-old girl, Oaklynn Alexander, concluded in a tragic incidents on Monday night when the girl's father, 43-year-old Charles Alexander, was shot and killed by police in a business parking lot. Oaklynn was safely recovered and returned to her family without any injuries.
The Amber Alert was initially issued after Charles Alexander allegedly abducted Oaklynn from a family member's home in Empire, Ohio, following a domestic dispute. Authorities feared for Oaklynn's safety, as Charles did not have legal custody of her.
The alert triggered a multi-county search, and around 8 p.m., law enforcement located Alexander's vehicle on Interstate 71 near Brunswick, Ohio.
When officers attempted a traffic stop, Alexander reportedly continued driving, evading police until his vehicle was eventually disabled, prompting him to exit the highway at Route 18 in Medina Township and stop in the parking lot of a nearby business.
According to a statement from the Medina County Sheriff's Office, Alexander communicated with multiple dispatch centers over the phone while in the parking lot.
Shortly after, an officer-involved shooting occurred, resulting in Alexander’s death. The statement did not disclose whether Alexander was armed or provide specific details on why officers opened fire.
It remains unclear if Oaklynn was inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting; however, authorities confirmed she was safely recovered from the scene without injury and was reunited with her family soon after.
