Two teens arrested in the carjacking, shooting of Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso

Mark Williams, Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read
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Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso, top, was an All American with the Buckeyes. He was shot as part of a carjacking near campus on Aug. 18.
Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso, top, was an All American with the Buckeyes. He was shot as part of a carjacking near campus on Aug. 18.

A 15- and 16-year-old have been arrested in the Aug. 18 carjacking and shooting near campus of Ohio State All-American wrestler Sammy Sasso.

Columbus police released a statement Tuesday that the pair had been charged with aggravated robbery and felonious assault. Both were arrested Monday.

The Dispatch is not releasing the names of the two suspects because they have not been bound over to adult court at this time.

Sasso was shot shortly before 8:30 p.m. in an alley near the 1300 block of North High Street and East 7th Avenue.

Eyewitnesses told police that Sasso had been trying to run over a rat in his car, a blue 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. When he successfully ran over the rat, he stopped his car and got out to talk to two children, according to a police report.

Two suspects suddenly approached Sasso and one pulled a handgun on him, demanding his vehicle, according to the police report. The gunman shot Sasso before getting into the driver's seat. The other suspect got in the passenger's seat, and the two drove off from the scene.

Two days ago, Sasso's family released an update on his health, saying he is getting better, but has a long recovery ahead.

His family created a GoFundMe that has raised $100,981 so far, topping the $100,000 goal.

In a message on the site, Sasso's family wrote that Sasso was shot in the abdomen and underwent emergency surgery to reconstruct his colon. The next morning, he had a second surgery to remove the bullet from near his spine, where it had caused "severe nerve damage."

He was in an intensive care unit for three days before being transferred to the acute care unit for more care, his family wrote.

He will need physical therapy to learn to walk again, the family said.

Right now, he is unable to walk without help and, though it will be a "long, difficult road," doctors are "hopeful he will make a full recovery," the family wrote.

Sasso is a four-time All-American and a two-time Big Ten champion and qualifying for the NCAA tournament four times.

mawilliams@dispatch.com

@BizMarkWilliams

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Two teens arrested in shooting of Ohio State wrestler Sammy Sasso