3 weeks ago
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A father was shot and killed by police after he kidnapped his daughter, Oaklynn. The incident occurred on November 11 in Medina County, Ohio, as reported by Fox News.
Charles Ryan Alexander
, 43, took Oaklynn, 7, from her grandmother’s Jefferson County home as he did not have legal custody of the child. As soon as the incident occurred, an Amber Alert was issued, and Brunswick police located the vehicle in Brunswick, Ohio. Alexander refused to stop, leading police on a multi-jurisdictional chase.
Police used stop sticks to end the pursuit in a parking lot, where a standoff ensued. During the standoff, Alexander threatened to kill his daughter and himself. Audio recordings captured the exchange between Alexander, his daughter, and dispatchers.
“I will shoot us both, stand back!” Alexander shouted.
Oaklynn pleaded with her father. “Please don’t,” she said.
Alexander also spoke to the child’s mother through the police. “I wanna talk to her mother. If you’re listening, Ashley, you should've called.”
Oaklynn asked her father: "How do you know we're going to heaven?"
He replied: "We'll both go."
“I am going to heaven?” she asked. Then, realizing the implication, she shouted, “No! I don't want to go to heaven today.”
Alexander responded: “I didn't want it to happen either, I just wanted to talk to your mother.”
Dispatchers attempted to de-escalate the situation, urging Alexander not to harm his daughter. “Let's not do anything we can’t undo," one dispatcher said. Another said: "Let's not do anything that is going to make it even more unfair to her, 'cause you love her, I know you do.”
Police ultimately shot Alexander, who died at the scene. Oaklynn was unharmed and returned to her family.
