A Kentucky State Police trooper was shot and killed late Sunday night during a high-speed chase along I-24 in Lyon County.
Police say Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder stopped a vehicle near mile marker 58 around 10:20 p.m. During the traffic stop, the driver took off. Officials say Ponder chased the suspect for about eight miles until the driver slammed on his brakes, causing the trooper to crash into his vehicle. Police say at that point, the suspect fired several shots into the cruiser, hitting Ponder multiple times.
EMS took Ponder to Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton, where he died about an hour later.
Police have identified the suspect as Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, 25.
Police describe Johnson-Shanks as black man with brown eyes and black hair. He stands 5'5" and weighs about 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark clothing. He is considered armed and dangerous,
Troopers closed all lanes of I-24 between the 45 and 56 mile markers as they searched for the suspect, Authorities detained some people at the scene. Police focused the search on a wooded area along I-24 extending from Eddy Creek to Bells Creek.
