DELAWARE – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a shooting which occurred in the rest area on Interstate 71 shortly after 11 a.m. in Delaware County on October 2. The suspect, Shawn A. Johnson, 25, of Westerville, fired several shots at a vehicle, striking the victim. Both Johnson and the victim were standing outside near the victim’s vehicle at the time of the shooting.
The Highway Patrol and Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies located Johnson’s vehicle, initiating a pursuit. The pursuit ended after Johnson’s vehicle drove over road spikes and crashed into a guardrail on Interstate 71 northbound in Richland County.
Troopers surrounded the vehicle. Once troopers were able to approach the vehicle, Johnson was discovered to be deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victim identified by The College of Wooster is Alexander Melchert, a first-year student from Wisconsin. He is still listed in critical condition at a Columbus hospital.
No officers were injured as a result of the incident.