A Nigerian student, Oluwabukola Pereira, has been killed in the United States just days before she was due to complete her Master of Business Administration programme.
Authorities said Pereira was shot on Friday, May 8, during what is being treated as a robbery at Arise Auto Center, where she was employed.
Investigators with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office are examining the circumstances of the incident. A motive has not been officially confirmed.
Local media reports quote a colleague, Don Simpson, as saying Pereira pursued a suspect who allegedly fled with about $1,500 before she was shot during the encounter. He described her as committed and courageous, noting her efforts to build a life in the country.
Pereira was scheduled to graduate from Xavier University on May 16. The institution confirmed she had also secured admission for a postgraduate programme in Business Analytics set to begin later in the year.
In a statement, the university president, Colleen Hanycz, said she was known for her positive outlook, strong faith, and generosity. Students and peers described her as intelligent, kind, and well-regarded within the campus community.
Beyond her academic work, Pereira was active in athletics and competed with a Cincinnati-based running group, taking part in events including the Flying Pig Marathon.
Her family described her as the first of four children and said she was preparing for marriage following her engagement in 2025.
Police said the suspect is a male, believed to be between 25 and 35 years old, described as Black or Hispanic, with long hair styled in braids or dreadlocks. He was last seen running toward the Gardner Park area.
Authorities are continuing their investigation and have asked the public to provide any information that could assist the case.
