Kentucky State Trooper Shot And Killed In Lyon County

A high speed chase Sunday night led to the death of a Kentucky State Trooper. The Kentucky State Police stated that Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder, 31, made a traffic stop when the driver fled the stop.

Via KSP:

On Sunday, September 13, 2015 at approximately 10:20 P.M CST, Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 24 around the 58 mile marker westbound. After making contact with the driver, the vehicle fled from the stop. A pursuit ensued with the suspect stopping abruptly around the 49 mile marker, causing the front of Trooper Ponder’s police cruiser to make contact with the rear of the suspect vehicle. At this time, the driver of the suspect vehicle fired several shots into the police cruiser striking the hood, windshield and Trooper Ponder multiple times. The suspect fled the scene on foot.

Trooper Ponder was transported via ambulance to the Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton, KY where he succumbed to his injuries at 11:41 P.M. CST.

The suspect has been identified as Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, 25, of Missouri. He is described as a black male approximately 5’5”, 140 pounds, brown eyes and black hair.

On Monday, September 14 at approximately 7:00 A.M CST, KSP Troopers located Johnson-Shanks in a wooded area in close proximity to Interstate 24. Upon making contact with Johnson-Shanks, Troopers of the Special Response Team (SRT) observed him with a firearm and instructed him to relinquish it. Johnson-Shanks refused verbal commands and aimed the weapon at the Troopers. An SRT Trooper discharged his agency issued weapon striking Johnson-Shanks. He was transported via ambulance to the Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton, KY for treatment where he later succumbed to his injuries at 08:23 A.M. CST.

 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Trooper Ponder's family and the entire Kentucky State Police during this time.