A Somali-American man extradited from Somalia has appeared before an Ohio court to face murder and robbery charges linked to the 2021 fatal shooting of Bryce Persang in Columbus. The case follows the recent transfer of another Somali suspect to the United States, highlighting expanding law enforcement cooperation between Washington and Mogadishu.
COLUMBUS (Somali Report) — A Somali-American man transferred from Somalia to the United States has made his first appearance in an Ohio court to face murder and robbery charges in connection with the fatal 2021 shooting of a Columbus man, becoming the second Somali suspect returned from Somalia to the U.S. within days.
Hanut Abdulle, 23, appeared before a Franklin County judge on Monday after his transfer from Mogadishu last week following a multinational law enforcement operation involving U.S. and Somali authorities.
He was arraigned on one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and one count of aggravated robbery. All charges include firearm specifications.
The judge set Abdulle's bond at $2 million. If he is released on bond, he must surrender his passport and will be placed under GPS monitoring while awaiting trial.
The charges stem from the fatal shooting of Bryce Persang, 24, on September 16, 2021, in west Columbus.
According to investigators, Columbus police responded to reports of gunfire in the 5500 block of Floral Circle South, where officers found Persang suffering from a gunshot wound inside the passenger seat of a Honda Fit. He was taken to a nearby hospital but later died from his injuries.
Prosecutors allege Abdulle and co-defendant Tahir Said, 24, carried out the killing before fleeing the United States shortly afterward.
Abdulle remained outside the country for several years before investigators located him in Somalia. U.S. authorities said his return was made possible through cooperation involving the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Columbus Division of Police, the Somali Police Force, Somali intelligence services and other African law enforcement partners.
Somali Report · Newsletter
Your morning briefing on Somalia's biggest stories — politics, security, business, and the people shaping the region's future.
"The United States Marshals Service collaborates daily with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to apprehend dangerous fugitives," U.S. Marshal Michael D. Black said after Abdulle's return. He said the international partnership was critical in bringing the suspect back to face justice.
During Monday's arraignment, Persang's mother addressed the court, urging the judge to deny Abdulle's release because of concerns he could flee again if granted bond.
Franklin County prosecutors said Assistant Prosecutor David Zeyen will lead the prosecution.
Authorities said Said remains at large and is believed to also be in Somalia. The U.S. Marshals Service continues to seek information that could lead to his arrest.
The case follows another high-profile transfer from Somalia earlier this month involving Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, who was returned to Minnesota to face federal charges in the $250 million Feeding Our Future COVID-19 fraud investigation.
The two transfers have attracted attention because Somalia and the United States do not have a formal extradition treaty. U.S. officials have generally described the returns as lawful transfers carried out in close cooperation with Somali authorities rather than formal extraditions.
The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu recently praised Somalia's cooperation in both cases, saying the successful operations demonstrate growing law enforcement coordination between the two countries and could provide a model for future efforts to return fugitives accused of serious crimes.
Abdulle is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
About the Author
Fatuma Taxadar Yusuf is the Editor-in-Chief of Somali Report. She was the first woman to serve as an editor and media managing director in Somalia’s Puntland State. Previously, she worked with the BBC World Service and other leading media organizations in Somalia. She also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Somalia Media Council, an independent body that regulates media standards and professional conduct in Somalia.
