Kyle Cooper, 30, Dies After Alleged Assault Near Sullivant Avenue in West Columbus, Ohio

 A Thursday night in Columbus, Ohio, ended in tragedy when Kyle Cooper, 30, died after an alleged assault in the Hilltop neighborhood. Police said the incident unfolded near Sullivant Avenue and Binns Boulevard on October 15, 2026, where Cooper was reportedly assaulted and left in the roadway before being struck by a passing vehicle. His death has left a painful loss as investigators work to establish the full sequence of events.

Columbus police responded to a reported traffic collision at approximately 9:30 p.m. Officers arriving near the intersection found that a vehicle had struck Cooper. Emergency medical personnel transported him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m., according to local reporting citing police. What first appeared to be a roadway collision led investigators to examine whether another incident had occurred beforehand. The initial response focused on the reported collision that evening.

Police later determined that Cooper had allegedly been assaulted before he was hit by the vehicle. According to the account described in reports, investigators believe he was left lying in the roadway after the assault. An affidavit reportedly alleges that Michon Minyard kicked and stomped Cooper while he was down. These are allegations in a criminal case, and the full circumstances must be established through evidence and court proceedings. Investigators continue reviewing available evidence.

Minyard, 32, was arrested and charged with murder and felonious assault in connection with Cooper’s death, police said. The charges do not establish guilt, and Minyard is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Authorities have not publicly established a motive in the information reviewed. Investigators continue examining the sequence of events. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident near the Hilltop intersection.

The driver whose vehicle struck Cooper remained at the scene and was not charged in the initial police account. That distinction is important as investigators consider the alleged assault separately from the collision itself and determine the legal circumstances surrounding the death. Available reports do not indicate that the driver was accused of wrongdoing. The investigation may clarify additional details as detectives review evidence and information from people who were nearby. Legal proceedings will determine how the charges proceed.

For Cooper’s family, friends, and others who knew him, the loss is more than the details of a police investigation. At 30, his life extended beyond the tragic circumstances described in public reports. Verified information about his occupation, interests, family, or funeral arrangements was not included in the coverage reviewed, and those personal details should not be assumed. His loved ones deserve space and privacy as they face an unexpected death. No further details about the driver were announced.

The case has also raised difficult questions about violence and the vulnerability of someone left in an active roadway. The investigation’s central task is to establish what happened and determine responsibility based on evidence, rather than speculation. Anyone who witnessed the assault or collision may have information that could assist investigators. Police asked people with relevant details to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. Reports offer limited background about Cooper.

As legal proceedings begin, the allegations against Minyard remain subject to the court process, and further verified information may clarify the timeline. For now, Cooper’s death leaves family, friends, and the wider Columbus community mourning a life lost suddenly. Remembering him with dignity means acknowledging the loss while avoiding assumptions about his private life or the case’s unresolved details. Those affected deserve compassion as investigators continue seeking answers.