Oluwabukola Pereira, a Nigerian middle-distance athlete, was shot dead in the United States just days before she was due to graduate with a Master of Business Administration degree.

According to TheCable, the 30-year-old was killed on May 8 during a suspected robbery at a car service centre in Lockland, where she worked as a cashier.

The report said the attacker allegedly stole about $1,500 before fleeing. A co-worker, Don Simpson, said Pereira chased the suspect before she was shot twice.

“So the guy came in and robbed her, and when he ran, she ran behind him. And when they got to the back, he shot her.”

Local authorities in Ohio are still investigating the incident and have not officially confirmed the motive behind the shooting.

Pereira was enrolled at Xavier University and was expected to complete her MBA within days of her death.

Originally from Lagos, she competed in several national athletics championships before moving to the US. She later earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University and a master’s in communication from University of Texas at El Paso.

TheCable also reported that James Lafferty, who helped sponsor her move to the US, said Pereira arrived in the country with only $10 and a scholarship. Lafferty said he discovered her talent while serving as chief executive officer of Coca-Cola West Africa.

The incident has sparked grief among members of the Nigerian community and those who knew Pereira as both an athlete and a student pursuing academic success abroad.