A 32-year-old man faces murder charges after a 30-year-old was found struck by a car on Sullivant Avenue in Columbus’s Hilltop neighborhood Thursday night. Police say the victim, Kyle Cooper, had been assaulted and left in the roadway before the vehicle hit him.
Officers arrived near the intersection with Binns Boulevard shortly before 9:30 p.m. Cooper was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. An affidavit alleges Michon Minyard kicked and stomped Cooper while he lay in the street. Minyard is charged with murder and felonious assault.
The driver of the car that hit Cooper remained on scene. Authorities confirmed that driver is not facing charges tied to the crash and was not part of the earlier dispute. The focus stays on the alleged assault that put Cooper in harm’s way.
Minyard was scheduled for arraignment Saturday morning. Detectives continue to piece together exactly what happened in the moments before the collision. They are asking witnesses to come forward with any information.
This kind of case hits hard in the Hilltop area. A man ends up in the travel lanes after a reported beating, then gets hit by a passing vehicle. Police separate the assault from the crash itself, but both form the full story of that night.
Anyone with details can contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. Tips could help fill in the gaps still open in the investigation.
The charges against Minyard will work through the court system. For the people connected to Cooper, the loss remains personal and permanent. Police say the work to clarify every step of the evening is ongoing.
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