Kentucky Trooper Slain; Gunman Fatally Shot
Authorities say that a man who was fatally shot Monday morning after killing a Kentucky State Police trooper the night before was not alone in his vehicle when he fled a traffic stop.
Ambrea R.J. Shanks, the 18-year-old niece of 25-year-old suspect Joseph Thomas Johnson-Shanks, was arrested with hindering prosecution and apprehension in the first degree following the slaying of Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder, according to a news release.
Shanks was a passenger in the vehicle, along with three other people. Two of the passengers are under the age of six and the other was a 22-year-old female. The juvenile passengers have been released to a relative.
A manhunt was launched Sunday night for Johnson-Shanks after the death of the 31-year-old trooper, who pulled the man's vehicle over on I-24 around 10:20 p.m. When Ponder made contact, officials said Johnson-Shanks drove away.
A pursuit ensued and Johnson-Shanks suddenly stopped, causing Ponder's cruiser to hit the back of his vehicle. He then fired several shots into the trooper's cruiser, striking the hood, windshield and Ponder multiple times. Johnson-Shanks then fled the scene on foot.
The trooper, who graduated from the academy in January, was transported to the Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton where he succumbed to his injuries around 11:40 p.m.
"Senseless acts like this are a tragic reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every day, just by putting on their uniform and doing their job," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement. "That he was killed in the line of duty makes his death memorable, but we must never forget the most significant part of Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder’s story – how he lived, his selfless service to others, and his willingness to give his life for that commitment."
After an hours-long manhunt, Johnson-Shanks was tracked down to a wooded area near Interstate 24 around 7 a.m. when members of the Special Response Team ordered him to drop a firearm he was aiming at troopers.
Johnson-Shanks refused to follow repeated commands to disarm, forcing a trooper to shoot him. The suspect was transported to the Caldwell Medical Center in Princeton where he later succumbed to his injuries at approximately 8:23 a.m.
Funeral arrangements for the trooper are pending.
About the Author
Paul Peluso
Editor
Paul Peluso is the Managing Editor of OFFICER Magazine and has been with the Officer Media Group since 2006. He began as an Associate Editor, writing and editing content for Officer.com. Previously, Paul worked as a reporter for several newspapers in the suburbs of Baltimore, MD.