Hanut Abdulle, 23, was arraigned in an Ohio court on Monday over murder charges stemming from the death of Bryce Persang in September 2021.
Persang was found with a gunshot wound in the passenger seat of a silver Honda Fit behind an apartment complex in West Columbus. He was transported to a hospital but later died.
After an investigation, Abdulle was indicted on numerous charges along with co-defendant Tahir Said. Prosecutors stated both men fled the country after the shooting, but Abdulle was apprehended in Mogadishu, Somalia, and extradited to the United States. He was placed into custody by Columbus police on Thursday.
Abdulle had been charged in 2023 with one count of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated robbery, and two counts of murder. The four felony charges additionally carried gun specifications.
His bond was set at $2 million, and he is subject to GPS monitoring as well as passport surrender if released.
Law enforcement officials indicated they are continuing to seek Tahir Said in Somalia.
“We’re not going to quit,” said U.S. Marshal Michael Black of the southern district of Ohio. “You know, these fugitives take days off. We don’t take days off.”
Abdulle was apprehended through cooperation between the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Somali Police Force.
In a news video report, the victim’s mother stated: “Bryce’s life mattered, and our story is important.”
