Authorities in the United States have intensified investigations into the killing of Nigerian middle-distance athlete, Oluwabukola Pereira, who was shot dead during an alleged robbery incident in Ohio just days before she was scheduled to complete her MBA programme.
Pereira, 30, was reportedly killed on May 8 at the Arise Auto Center located on North Wayne Avenue in Lockland, Ohio, where she worked as a cashier.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the shooting prompted a temporary shelter-in-place order as security operatives secured the area and urged residents to avoid nearby streets during the initial investigation.
The county coroner later confirmed that the Nigerian athlete died from gunshot injuries sustained during the incident.
Local reports indicated that detectives had appealed to residents and business owners in Lockland and neighbouring Lincoln Heights to provide surveillance footage that could aid investigations.
Authorities reportedly requested video recordings, including footage from Ring cameras, captured between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the day of the incident.
Investigators described the suspect as a heavily built Black man who was allegedly dressed in grey sweatpants and a black sweatshirt and possibly wore a long black wig before fleeing through a creek behind the business premises.
Pereira represented Nigeria in middle-distance athletics and competed in both local and international events during her career.
She recorded a personal best of 2:12.68 in the 800 metres and 4:39.57 in the 1500 metres during competitions held in Warrensburg, Missouri, in 2019.
Her athletics career spanned over a decade and included appearances at the AFN Golden League in Port Harcourt as well as several collegiate competitions across the United States.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday, her grassroots coach, Rauf Abass, described her death as devastating, revealing that she was expected to graduate with an MBA on May 16, barely one week after the tragedy.
“It was very painful news for all of us when we heard what happened,” Abass said.
He explained that he, alongside one of Pereira’s longtime supporters identified as Mrs Esther, visited her family in Nigeria to formally break the news.
According to him, members of the athletics community and some of her former teammates later visited the family to offer condolences.
Abass also noted that the deceased played a major role in supporting her family financially.
“She was also a breadwinner for the family, so it is extremely painful for them,” he said, adding that he had spoken with her a day before the incident occurred.
A co-worker at the auto centre, Don Simpson, told local media that Pereira was highly respected by colleagues and was handling cash transactions at the business when the incident happened.
He alleged that she confronted the suspect during the robbery attempt before she was shot.
Meanwhile, her fiancé, Gbenga Showole, described her as a compassionate and deeply faithful person.
Showole disclosed that plans were underway to establish a foundation in her honour to preserve her legacy and values.