A college student was shot at a rest area in Delaware County Saturday, and authorities now say a 25-year-old Westerville man pulled the trigger.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol in Delaware County is investigating the shooting, which happened around 11 a.m. at the northbound I-71 rest area.
Troopers have identified the victim as Alexander Melchert, a Wisconsin-native in his first year at Ohio’s College of Wooster. Melchert was transported to Grant Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Lt. Marcus Pirrone tells 10TV that Melchert and a woman drove up to the rest stop, and the woman waited in the car as he went to the restroom.
When Melchert returned, he was shot six times by a suspect sitting on a nearby park bench.
On Monday, Troopers identified the suspect as 25-year-old Shawn A. Johnson of Westerville.
Police say Johnson drove away from the rest area and headed north towards Mansfield after the shooting. Following a brief pursuit, Johnson was surrounded by authorities on I-71 in Richland County, causing the highway to be shut down for several hours.
Ohio State Highway Patrol says after a standoff with law enforcement, Johnson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
---
