Manhunt Continues for Gunman After Kentucky Freeway Shooting
Authorities are actively searching for a shooter who attacked motorists on Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon, resulting in injuries to at least seven individuals and damage to around a dozen vehicles.
Some of the injuries were serious, but fortunately, no fatalities have been reported. Both sides of the roadway were impacted, leading to a car accident, according to police. Five individuals were shot while an additional two were injured in the vehicle collision.
The suspect has been identified as Joseph Couch, 32, from Knox County, Kentucky. Officials stated that Couch opened fire with an AR-15 from a cliff targeting drivers near Exit 49 on the interstate. They believe he acted independently.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear; however, it has been reported that Couch sent a threatening text to his ex-wife stating, “I’m going to kill a lot of people,” roughly half an hour before the shooting spree began.
This information comes from police affidavits reviewed and reported by the Lexington Herald Leader.
As the manhunt entered its third day on Monday, law enforcement advised local residents to remain cautious, suggesting that Couch could still be nearby, including in the Daniel Boone National Forest area. He is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Here’s what has been reported so far:
Where Are Authorities Searching for the Shooter?
Initial reports indicated that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident involving two vehicles. Subsequent investigations revealed that the shooter was positioned near Exit 49 and aimed at passing vehicles.
Law enforcement is deploying drones, helicopters equipped with infrared search technology, and conducting foot patrols across a challenging terrain surrounding I-75.
When Did the Shooting Take Place?
All times referenced are in Central Time and approximate.
Saturday
â—¾ Morning: Couch legally acquires an AR-15 and approximately one thousand rounds of ammunition from a local vendor.
â—¾ 5:03 p.m.: Couch texts his ex-wife threatening to kill multiple people, as reported by the Lexington Herald Leader.
â—¾ 5:30 p.m.: The suspect opens fire on motorists on I-75, with seven reported injuries, five from gunfire, and two from a car accident. Later, authorities find at least 12 vehicles that had been shot.
â—¾ 6:36 p.m.: The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office posts on social media that I-75 is closed between Exit 49 and U.S. 25, north of London, due to an active shooting incident, with both lanes blocked as the origin of the shots remained uncertain.
â—¾ 7:30 p.m.: Police begin searching a wooded area for the shooter.
â—¾ 7:40 p.m.: Kentucky State Police inform the Louisville Courier Journal that they are unsure of the suspect’s location.
â—¾ 8:30 p.m.: Authorities find a small silver SUV linked to the suspect along a U.S. Forest Service road at Exit 49 containing a rifle case. The vehicle’s registration connects it to Couch, prompting police to label him a person of interest.
â—¾ 9:22 p.m.: The sheriff’s office announces the reopening of I-75.
â—¾ 3 a.m.: The police halt their search efforts for the night.
Sunday
â—¾ 9 a.m.: The search resumes.
â—¾ 11 a.m.: Police state that dense vegetation and rough terrain are complicating their search.
â—¾ 1:30 p.m.: Authorities locate an AR-15 in the vicinity of the highway and the SUV.
Monday
â—¾ 8 a.m.: The search is back in action.
Who Is the Suspect?
The sheriff’s office released information on social media identifying Joseph A. Couch as a person of interest in the shooting. Following the discovery of the suspect’s SUV, Couch was formally named a suspect.
Couch faces five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault, as stated by London Mayor Randall Weddle in an interview with the Courier Journal on Monday.
Kentucky State Police have announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to Couch’s capture. A private benefactor has also contributed an additional $10,000 for information.
Previously, Couch had been charged with third-degree domestic terroristic threatening in Knox County on February 8, but those charges were ultimately dismissed. He also faced DUI charges in 2020.
Couch served four years in the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged, according to state police.
Unknown Victims
Three of the victims from the shooting have not yet been identified and were taken to Saint Joseph London Hospital, while two others were transported to UK HealthCare, reported Gilbert Acciardo, spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries from the vehicle collision.
Kentucky State Police are assisting in the search, alongside agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Louisville, as confirmed in an ATF statement.
London, a town with around 8,000 residents, is located approximately 75 miles south of Lexington.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is appealing to anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts or related details to come forward.
To reach the London-Laurel County 911 Center, please make a call.
Contributors: Dann Miller, Olivia Evans, Mariana Johnson, Eleanor McCrary, Rachel Smith, Killian Baalear, Louisville Courier Journal; John Bacon, YSL News
References: Reporting and research from YSL News Network; Louisville Courier-Journal; Reuters; Kentucky State Police; Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
