The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released the names of the suspect and victim of a shooting at a rest area on Interstate 71 Sunday.
The patrol, via news release on Monday, reported that shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday at a rest area off Interstate 71 Northbound a man, Shawn A. Johnson, 25, of Westerville, fired several shots at a vehicle parked at the rest area. The shots struck Alexander S. Melchert, a freshman from Wisconsin studying at The College of Wooster, according to a statement from the college.
Melchert was taken to Grant Medical Center. He was reportedly in critical condition Monday afternoon.
Johnson fled the scene north on I-71 and was pursued by troopers from the highway patrol and Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies. Troopers report the pursuit ended after Johnson’s vehicle drove over road spikes and crashed into a guardrail on I-71 in Richland County.
Officials report troopers surrounded the vehicle and when they approached they found Johnson to be dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No officers were injured during the incident, but north and southbound traffic was stopped on I-71 for several hours until the standoff ended at 3:15 p.m.
The College of Wooster also reported that the Dean of Students, Scott Brown, was in Columbus with Melchert and said that Melchert’s parents were on their way to Ohio. The school also reported that staff had reached out to his roommate, faculty, and others who live in his hall, and counselors and faith professionals are on hand for support.
The Ohio Highway Patrol could not be reached for comment Monday.
