LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The hunt continues for a man accused of shooting at cars and injuring five individuals on a Kentucky highway, now in its 11th day. Authorities are shifting their strategy from searching the woods to increasing their presence in local neighborhoods.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Joseph Couch, 32, who allegedly fired at vehicles on Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky on September 7, hitting approximately a dozen vehicles and injuring five people. The incident triggered an extensive manhunt across 28,000 acres of thick forest, deploying helicopters, drones, and ground teams.

However, on Tuesday, law enforcement officials decided to pull back from the forest search and instead focus on building a stronger presence in nearby residential areas. While Kentucky State Police will still manage search efforts in Daniel Boone National Forest, which spans over 700,000 acres across 21 counties, they will be reducing personnel in the woods and will instead use aerial surveillance and cameras.

“On day 11, we realize that having officers more visible in our communities will provide reassurance to residents that if he’s still at large, we’re here with them — in the places they go to school and worship,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated at a news conference on Tuesday.

Beshear emphasized that redirecting resources into the community would yield a “better outcome for public safety.” Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. mentioned that they have received over 400 tips since the shooting, most of which suggest leads outside of the forest area.

Local and state law enforcement are set to enhance patrols on roads and increase security at local schools, transportation routes, and sporting events, as noted by Burnett.

“We know that people are apprehensive,” Beshear remarked. “Our aim is for the community — even during these uncertain times — to return to their daily routines, and the best way to achieve that is through an increased presence of law enforcement.”

What occurred during the Kentucky highway shooting?

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene around 5:30 p.m. on September 7 after reports emerged of a gunshot victim on I-75 near Exit 49 and U.S. Route 25, approximately eight miles north of London, KY, which is about 75 miles south of Lexington. When officers arrived, they found several vehicles parked on the highway with shattered windows and visible bullet holes.

Authorities discovered that 12 vehicles had been shot on both sides of the road, resulting in five injuries, with some individuals sustaining severe wounds. Fortunately, all survived.

The shooting caused a prolonged closure of the highway while authorities searched for the shooter, leading to lockdowns in multiple counties and school closures.

Laurel County Public Schools resumed in-person classes on Tuesday, implementing enhanced security measures for school buses, campuses, and extracurricular activities, according to district officials.

Authorities found Couch’s vehicle the same night as the shooting and discovered an AR-15 in a wooded area near Exit 49 the following day, along with fully loaded magazines. Officials indicated that this weapon might have been used in the incident.

An employee at a local firearm store, Center Target Firearms, confirmed to police that Couch had purchased an AR-15 and 1,000 rounds of ammunition that morning, as detailed in an affidavit by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The weapon found by the police matched the description of the one Couch bought that day.

Couch allegedly sent a text to the mother of his child shortly before the shooting, mentioning that he intended to “kill a lot of people” and also expressed his intention to take his own life afterward, according to the affidavit.

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Joseph Couch Declared a Fugitive by U.S. Marshals

On Tuesday, both Beshear and Burnett acknowledged that authorities currently lack the evidence needed to arrest Couch.

“We haven’t found a resolution,” Beshear commented. “We have an individual who committed a terrible act of violence, attempted to kill many, and we have not yet located him or concluded the investigation.”

The U.S. Marshals Service has labeled Couch a fugitive, according to spokesperson Jeremy Honaker. The Federal Fugitive Task Force, dedicated to apprehending wanted violent criminals, will assist local and state agencies in tracking down Couch.

Couch faces charges from Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, the felony prosecutor for Laurel County, including five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.

A reward of $35,000 is being offered for information leading to Couch’s capture.