Trooper Joseph Cameron Ponder

End of Watch: Sun, Sep 13th, 2015

Date of Incident: Sun, Sep 13th, 2015

Cause of Death: Gunfire (Intentional)

Service Time: 8 months

Age: 31

Survivors

His father, Joseph; mother, Brenda Tiffany and her husband Allan; his sister, Kelly Ponder; and fiancee, Chrystal Coleman,

Incident

At approximately 10:20 p.m. Sunday evening, Trooper Ponder effected a trafic stop on Interstate-24 in western Kentucky. Discovering that the driver had a suspended license, that there were small children in the vehicle, and no other adult occupants had valid licenses, Trooper Ponder attempted to find lodging while they waited for someone to come pick them up. As he sat in his car making the arrangements, the driver suddenly drove away and Trooper Ponder gave chase.

During the chase, the suspect stopped abruptly, causing Trooper Ponder's vehicle to collide with the rear of the suspect's vehicle.

The driver then fired several shots into the Trooper's vehicle striking him multiple times. Trooper Ponder was transported to a hospital in Princeton, Kentucky, where he died from his wounds shortly before midnight.

The suspect fled on foot and was apprehended after an overnight manhunt.