7 Year-Old Oaklynn Alexander Found Safe, Suspect Charles Alexander killed In Officer-Involved Shooting
An Amber Alert issued statewide for a 7-year-old girl, Oaklynn Alexander, ended in both relief and tragedy Monday night. The suspect, 43-year-old Charles Ryan Alexander, was fatally shot in an officer-involved incident after abducting his daughter from her home in Empire, Ohio, earlier in the day. Authorities confirmed that Oaklynn was rescued unharmed and has since been safely reunited with her family.
The dramatic events unfolded after Alexander, the girl’s non-custodial father, allegedly took Oaklynn following a domestic dispute. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Alexander initially fled in a Ford F-150 truck, later switching to a U-Haul vehicle.
Law enforcement tracked the U-Haul to Brunswick, Ohio, where police located the vehicle around 8 p.m. and attempted a traffic stop. Alexander, however, fled the scene, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit along I-71 heading south into Medina County.
The pursuit came to a halt when Alexander pulled into a parking lot off SR-18 in Medina Township. Officers and deputies quickly surrounded the vehicle and attempted to negotiate with him. According to officials, Alexander was armed and was in contact with law enforcement via phone as authorities worked to de-escalate the tense situation.
Despite repeated efforts to negotiate, the standoff tragically ended in gunfire, resulting in Alexander’s death. The Medina County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Oaklynn was immediately taken into protective custody at the scene. Medics on-site ensured her well-being before reuniting her with her family.
The Medina County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding both the shooting and the events leading up to it. The shooting has raised questions regarding the tragic conclusion of the Amber Alert and the escalating actions that led to the deadly standoff.
This intense incident serves as a reminder of the risks involved in Amber Alerts and the complex challenges law enforcement faces in rescuing abducted children. The community is relieved that Oaklynn was returned unharmed but saddened by the tragic loss of life that accompanied her rescue.