Manhunt for gunman who murdered rookie Kentucky state trooper

[techbeck]

Kentucky State Police have launched a manhunt after one of its troopers -- who was only on the force for less than a year -- was shot and killed late Sunday following a traffic stop and car chase. 

A statement released early Monday said that Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder, 31, was pronounced dead at a Princeton, Ky., hospital after being shot multiple times. Ponder had been a state trooper since January of this year. 

The statement said that Ponder was conducting a traffic stop on the westbound side of Interstate 24 in the western part of the state at about 10:20 p.m. local time. The statement said that the driver who was being stopped took off from the scene, with Ponder pursuing him for approximately nine miles. 

At that point, according to the statement, the suspect's car abruptly stopped, causing Ponder to crash his car into the vehicle. Police say the driver, identified as 25-year-old Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, of Missouri, got out of the car and started shooting at Ponder, hitting him multiple times. Bullets also struck the hood and windshield of the police cruiser, authorities said.

Authorities say Johnson-Shanks fled the scene on foot and is considered armed and dangerous. He's described as a black man, standing approximately 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing dark clothing. 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/14/kentucky-state-trooper-shot-and-killed-after-car-chase/?intcmp=hpbt1

[techbeck]

Cops shoot and kill alleged gunman who murdered rookie Kentucky state trooper

A man suspected of killing a Kentucky trooper was shot and killed by state police early Monday morning, police confirmed to FoxNews.com.

Authorities said 25-year-old Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, of Missouri, was located in a remote rural area near I-24 around 7 a.m., following an all-night manhunt. Johnson-Shanks was armed with a handgun and did not comply with several commands to drop his weapon, according to Sgt. Mike Webb.

"That gave the trooper closest to him no choice but to fire his agency-issued weapon, striking him multiple times," Webb said.

Johnson-Shanks was arrested while police waited for EMS at the scene and he died from his injuries at a local hospital at 8:23 a.m. Webb said he wasn't aware of any statements Johnson-Shanks may have made prior to being shot.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/14/kentucky-state-trooper-shot-and-killed-after-car-chase/?intcmp=hpbt1

[DocM]

 

WRTpost #2