Search for I-75 Kentucky gunman continues in dense woods
Suspect Joseph Couch still at large, rural Kentucky search intensifies
More than a day after suspected gunman Joseph Couch opened fire on Interstate 75, wounding five individuals, dozens of law enforcement officers are scouring the dense woods of rural Laurel County, Kentucky.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office has identified Joseph A. Couch, 32, as the suspect who allegedly fired into nine cars on both sides of the interstate on Saturday. Authorities believe he remains in the remote area where his car and a rifle were found.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, approximately nine miles north of London, Kentucky.
No fatalities have been reported, but some injuries were “very severe,” according to Acciardo, who spoke Sunday afternoon. One individual was shot in the face, and another “across the chest.” Some victims sustained critical injuries but are now stable.
Authorities discovered an AR-15 in a wooded area by the interstate on Sunday afternoon, which they believe was used in Saturday’s shooting.
Officials suspect Couch is still in the “very, very remote” area where his vehicle was found, though the public is urged to remain vigilant as the suspect “could be somewhere else – anywhere else.” Couch, from Woodbine, Kentucky, is described as a White man, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighing roughly 154 pounds.
The FBI’s Louisville office is also seeking information on Couch’s location.
The motive for the attack remains undetermined, Acciardo stated. Couch was not in a vehicle, and road rage is not suspected.
The shooting appeared to be “a planned event,” with Couch showing no significant criminal history, though nothing comparable to Saturday’s incident.
Couch allegedly fired into nine cars on the interstate south of Lexington, causing the closure of the interstate for hours and unsettling the rural community.
“We need to apprehend this individual because he has shown he is capable of violence,” Acciardo said.
As authorities search the heavily wooded, hilly terrain, Acciardo noted that the suspect “couldn’t have chosen a more remote and challenging area for us to locate him.”
Between 40 and 50 officers from federal, state, and local agencies are involved in the search.
On Saturday, law enforcement found a vehicle registered to Couch on a forest service road off Exit 49, with an empty gun case inside. The vehicle was near the interstate but not close enough for the suspect to have fired from that location. Authorities believe he walked closer to the interstate, where they recovered the weapon. They also found a phone with the battery removed, suggesting Couch may have other weapons.
“We do not believe he has outside assistance,” Acciardo mentioned, though it’s “extremely possible” the suspect is using telecommunications. Couch’s ability to survive in the remote woods depends on his level of preparation, which remains unclear. It is also possible Couch is no longer alive.
Residents are advised to stay alert, call 911 if they see Couch, and not approach him.
The search, coordinated by the sheriff’s office, resumed Sunday morning with the help of multiple law enforcement agencies and a drone equipped with infrared heat-sensing technology.
“It’s a tedious and stressful process,” Acciardo said. “We will continue because that’s what we do.”
“We have to check behind every tree,” he added.
Breaking: Several people have been shot near Interstate 75 in Laurel County, Kentucky, according to the Laurel County Sheriff’s office. “I-75 is closed at mile marker/Exit 49, and U.S. 25, nine miles north of London due to an active shooter situation,” the sheriff’s office said…
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) September 7, 2024
Officers are expanding the search area, and Acciardo noted they plan to pause the search overnight but will contain the area before resuming in the morning. Officers will remain in “strategic positions” overnight.
“It’s possible Couch has left the area, but not probable,” Acciardo said, citing undisclosed information.
The likelihood of Couch reaching a residence from the woods is “very remote,” he added.
The shooting disrupted the Saturday commute just days after a mass shooting in Winder, Georgia, left four dead and nine hospitalised, and less than a week after a spree shooter injured several individuals on an interstate in Seattle. President Joe Biden was briefed on the Kentucky shooting, the White House noted Sunday.
Laurel County Public Schools announced it would cancel classes on Monday out of “an abundance of caution.”
London Mayor Randall Weddle expressed hope that “this act of violence doesn’t define our community.”
One of the shooting victims, 28-year-old Rebecca Puryear, was on a family outing when the incident occurred. Puryear, her husband, and her 4-year-old son were returning home to Harlan, Kentucky, when gunshots rang out near Exit 49 on I-75.
“It sounded like a tyre had blown,” Puryear recounted. Her husband identified the noise as gunshots.
“Next thing I know, my ears are ringing. My passenger-side window is shattered, and there’s a bullet hole.”
Puryear continued driving for another mile and a half before stopping. She ensured her family was safe before realising she had been shot.
“I looked down and saw blood pouring,” she said. “I had to stay calm for my family.”
#UPDATE | Here’s what we know as of Sunday night about the Interstate 75 suspected shooter, 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch.
🚙 These photos are the suspect’s vehicle that was recovered Saturday night off exit 49 of a US forest service road in the area
🚓Laurel County sheriff’s… pic.twitter.com/0zW9zCqioP
— Mario Anderson 📺 (@MarioAndersonTV) September 8, 2024
They called 911, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Roberts responded, taking Puryear to the hospital.
A bullet had entered through the passenger-side window, striking her right arm, chest, and exiting through her left arm. She was discharged later that night but will require surgery.
“We’re blessed I’m still alive. It feels unreal,” Puryear said.
Another witness, Christina DiNoto, described the shooting. She initially thought a rock had hit her car, only later realising it was gunfire.
“My hands are still shaking,” DiNoto said, feeling fortunate to be unharmed.
What Other Media Are Saying
- PBS News reports an active shooter situation in Kentucky, where seven people were injured, with authorities searching for a suspect. (read more)
- The Los Angeles Times reports that multiple people were shot along Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky, with authorities conducting a manhunt for a suspect and advising caution. (read more)
- The Courier-Journal reports that on September 8, 2024, a shooting incident occurred on I-75 in Kentucky, resulting in at least one fatality and multiple injuries, with police investigating the motive and circumstances of the event. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is the suspect in the Interstate 75 shooting?
The suspect is Joseph A. Couch, 32, from Woodbine, Kentucky.
How many people were injured in the Interstate 75 shooting?
Five people were injured, with some sustaining very severe injuries.
Where is the search for the suspect taking place?
The search is focused in the dense woods of rural Laurel County, Kentucky.
What weapon was found near the scene of the shooting?
An AR-15 believed to be used in the shooting was found in a wooded area.
Is there any known motive for the Interstate 75 shooting?
No motive has been determined yet, but the attack seemed planned.
