“I don’t want to go to heaven today,” a seven-year-old Ohio girl pleaded with her father not to hurt her during a tense standoff with police. On November 11, 2024, 43-year-old Charles Ryan Alexander abducted his daughter, Oaklyn, from her grandmother’s home in Ohio. Since Alexander did not have custody rights, according to the sheriff’s office, authorities issued an alert, prompting a police chase that culminated in a confrontation at a parking lot in Medina County, Ohio.
“The vehicle stopped at a commercial parking lot where law enforcement attempted to negotiate with the armed suspect,” the Medina County Sheriff’s Office said in a release. The suspect, Charles Ryan Alexander, contacted several dispatch centers by telephone. Multiple bullets were fired in an officer-involved shooting. Medina County Coroner Dr. Deranek pronounced Alexander dead at the scene.
Audio of the 911 call captures the moments when Alexander, armed and agitated, was threatening to end both her and her daughter’s lives. “I’ll shoot both of us, stand back!” He yelled at the officers, according to a report in The New York Post. In the background, Oaklin’s desperate voice could be heard, repeatedly pleading, “Please don’t.”
In one conversation, Oaklin asked his father if they were both “going to heaven.” Alexander replied, “Shall we both go?” To which the child screams, “No! I don’t want to go to heaven today.”
Alexander, who was still holding the gun, expressed frustration about the situation, saying, “I didn’t want this to happen either; I just wanted to talk to your mom.” He addressed Oaklyn’s mother directly during the call, saying, “If you’re listening, Ashley, you should have called.”
911 dispatchers worked tirelessly to deescalate the situation. A dispatcher said, “Let’s not do anything we can’t undo.” Another said, “If you don’t want him to get scared, keep talking to him. Let’s not do anything that’s even more unfair to her, because you love her, I know you love her.’
Despite these efforts, the situation worsened. At an unknown point, the police opened fire on Alexander, seriously injuring him. Oaklin, although physically unharmed, witnessed the incident.
“The 7-year-old daughter was safely recovered from the scene and returned to family members without injury,” the Medina County Sheriff’s Office said.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of support for the young girl. A family friend has started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of her care, mental health support and future needs.
