CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Officers with the Circleville Police Department responded to two violent incidents Friday evening, including a reported armed suspect at Ohio Christian University and a separate disturbance at a local gas station.
Armed Suspect Prompts OCU Lockdown
Police were dispatched at approximately 6:28 p.m. to 1476 Lancaster Pike on the campus of Ohio Christian University following a report of a man with a firearm.
According to authorities, an OCU security officer was conducting routine patrol near the softball field dugout on the west side of campus when he encountered a man loitering in the area. When approached, the suspect allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the officer before fleeing northwest into a wooded area off campus.
The university was immediately placed on lockdown as officers established a perimeter and began a coordinated search of the surrounding area. Assistance was provided by the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which deployed a K-9 tracking team and a helicopter for aerial support.
As of late Friday night, the suspect had not been located.
He is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds. Police said he was wearing a red and purple sweatshirt and a baseball cap and is believed to be armed with a silver semi-automatic handgun.
No injuries were reported.
Separate Incident at Sheetz
The helicopter, during the OCU incident, aided in a separate incident that at the time was thought to be related to the college incident.
During the search, officers detained an individual at the Sheetz – 1395 S Court St gas station on South Court Street. Authorities later determined that the person was not connected to the university incident.
Police said the individual detained at Sheetz was a homeless man who had allegedly attempted to gain access to the Hope House and made violent threats toward the establishment.
Ongoing Investigation
The armed suspect from the OCU incident remains at large. Anyone with information or who may have seen someone matching the suspect’s description is urged to contact the Circleville Police Department at 740-474-8888.
The investigation remains ongoing.
