The search for a suspect in a highway shooting incident in Kentucky on Saturday night that left five people wounded and two others injured in related crashes has intensified as authorities recovered a semi-automatic weapon and vehicle believed to have been used in the attack.
According to the Associated Press, Joseph A. Couch, 32, was named a suspect in yesterday’s shooting spree on Interstate 75 as a manhunt continues for his capture in southeastern Kentucky.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that an AR-15 rifle was discovered on Sunday in an elevated wooded area adjacent to I-75 where the shooting occurred. Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said during a news conference that the weapon was found in a location “that he could have shot down upon the interstate from.”
Newsweek has contacted Acciardo and the sheriff’s office for further comment via email on Sunday.
The incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday near exit 49 on I-75, about eight miles from London, Kentucky. Nine vehicles traveling in both directions were struck by gunfire, resulting in injuries to seven people—five from gunshots and two from related crashes.
“When our first two units got to the scene there, they said it was a madhouse: people on the sides of the road, emergency flashers going, bullet holes, windows shot out, nine vehicles shot. Can you imagine that? Just chaotic,” Acciardo said on Sunday.
A coalition of up to 13 different agencies and law enforcement departments have deployed a range of resources, including drones, helicopters, and ground teams, to scour the rugged, forested terrain where Couch is believed to be hiding. The Laurel Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the ground search, with assistance from the London Laurel Rescue Squad’s drone equipped with Flir technology, according to the AP.
Couch, a resident of Woodbine, Kentucky, became the focus of the investigation after his abandoned SUV was located on a service road near the crime scene. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department shared that Couch “is said to be heavily armed with multiple rounds of ammunition.” Authorities describe him as a white male, approximately 5’10” tall, weighing 154 pounds, and consider him armed and extremely dangerous.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office/Getty Images
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community of London and surrounding areas. Mayor Randall Weddle urged residents to stay home and stay vigilant during the news conference and in messages on social media. “We want individuals to be vigilant if they have to be out tonight,” he said. “I’m urging individuals and folks in the community to stay home, just stay home for tonight.”
Local businesses and organizations have felt the impact of the ongoing manhunt, the AP reported. Several churches in the area canceled Sunday services, while others reported lower attendance due to safety concerns.
Residents of Laurel County and neighboring areas have been advised to remain indoors if possible and to report any sightings of Couch immediately to law enforcement. The public is strongly cautioned against attempting to approach or apprehend the suspect themselves.
Questions, meanwhile, remain about the motive behind the shooting. Acciardo stated that it did not appear to be a case of road rage, describing it as a “random act” of violence. He declined to speculate on possible motives.
The five shooting victims—one from Kentucky and four from out of state—remain hospitalized in stable condition. Acciardo noted during the news conference that some had “very serious” injuries, including one who was shot in the face.
I-75 was closed for several hours as deputies and Kentucky state police secured the scene and started looking for the gunman. Searches were focused on a remote, wooded area in Laurel County, with efforts resuming at daybreak on Sunday.
Authorities have established a command center near the scene and are coordinating round-the-clock operations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also joined the investigation, offering additional resources and expertise.
