COLUMBUS, Ohio — The man suspected of shooting a person on the campus of The Ohio State University Monday night is also wanted for abducting a woman in east Columbus nearly two weeks ago.
Richard Patridge, 31, has several outstanding warrants for his arrests, according to the Columbus Division of Police. Dockets on the Franklin County Municipal Court’s website show that he is facing several charges from different incidents, including felonious assault, fleeing from an officer and abduction.
Some of the charges stem from an abduction in east Columbus on Sept. 3 and a shooting near campus on Sept. 16.
On Sept. 3, police received a 911 call from a man saying someone was kidnapped. Officers met the caller at East Main Street and Alum Creek Drive.
The man told officers that he and his girlfriend were getting off a COTA bus when Patridge confronted them. Court records say Patridge was the father of the woman’s children. The man told police that Patridge struck him with a handgun and shot at him weeks before the incident.
Patridge reportedly pulled out a gun, pointed it at the man and told him to back up, which he did, according to court records. After that, the man told officers that Patridge pointed the gun at the woman and ordered her to get on the back of his motorcycle. The two left the area.
The woman was found two days later, but Patridge was not located.
Nearly two weeks later, on Sept. 16, Ohio State police were called to John Herrick Drive and Olentangy River Road near the southern end of campus on a report of a shooting.
The shooting victim had flagged down a bus traveling on John Herrick Bridge and told the driver they had been shot. They were taken to a hospital to be treated for their injuries.
The university identified the suspect in the shooting as Patridge and the victim told police that they had previous altercations with him before the incident.
Patridge is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call 911.