COLUMBUS, OH — Four men were arrested and charged after Columbus police say an armed robbery in Clintonville turned violent Wednesday evening and ended with a pursuit to Pataskala. The incident began near 374 Parkview Drive, where officers were called after a witness saw the robbery unfold and watched the victim leave bleeding from the head.

According to court documents, the victim had arranged to meet an old friend behind the Parkview Drive address. Police say the meeting quickly escalated when one suspect pulled a firearm with a laser, demanded money and then struck the victim in the face twice when he refused. Another suspect allegedly pointed a rifle while the victim’s pockets were searched.

How police say the robbery escalated on Parkview Drive

Court records identify one of the suspects as 20-year-old Hamsa Omar, who had arranged to meet the victim at the location. Police say 21-year-old Ayub Hoosh then pulled the gun and used it to hit the victim during the confrontation. The victim was left injured and sought help from a nearby witness, who then called police.

Investigators say 19-year-old Moahmed Said displayed a rifle during the robbery while 21-year-old Hamza Gele allegedly went through the victim’s pockets. The four men then fled the scene in a gray Toyota Corolla tied to Omar. The violent nature of the encounter, including the use of multiple weapons, is part of what led to the aggravated robbery charges.

Traffic stop turns into an eighteen mile pursuit

After officers identified the Corolla, Columbus police attempted to stop the vehicle. Authorities say Omar did not pull over, setting off an eighteen mile chase that ran from the Clintonville area east into Pataskala. The pursuit stretched across local roads before ending with all four men in custody.

Police have not said in the court documents exactly how the chase ended, only that the suspects were apprehended in Pataskala. The location matters because the robbery and arrest crossed a county line, involving a rapid response that began in Columbus and continued into the eastern suburbs. The victim later identified the men to officers at the arrest location.

The charges filed against each suspect

Each of the four men is facing one count of aggravated robbery, according to court filings. That charge reflects police allegations that weapons were used during the theft and that the robbery became violent when the victim refused to hand over money. The men were expected to be arraigned Friday morning.

The suspects named in the case are Omar, Hoosh, Said and Gele. Police say all four were taken into custody after the chase. Court documents describe their roles in the incident differently, but the charge filed against each man is the same at this stage of the case.

What witnesses and court records say happened next

The victim’s bleeding injury and the witness account helped officers respond quickly after the robbery. Police say the witness saw the injured man run toward them and then called authorities. That call appears to have helped police identify the suspect vehicle and begin looking for it in the area.

Once officers caught up with the men, the victim told police what had happened and identified the suspects. That identification, combined with the reported weapons and the pursuit, formed the basis for the arrests and charges. The court documents do not say whether any money was recovered.

A case that links a neighborhood robbery to a wider police response

The case started as a neighborhood confrontation in Clintonville but quickly became a larger law enforcement response involving a moving suspect vehicle and a long pursuit. For Columbus police, the sequence of events connected a violent street robbery, a witness report and a chase that ended outside the city.

With arraignments scheduled for Friday morning, the case is now moving into the court system. The allegations center on the use of a gun, a rifle and physical force during the attempted theft, along with the flight from officers that followed. Any further details on the investigation will likely come through court proceedings and police filings.