Manhunt in Southeastern Kentucky for Suspected Interstate Shooter

Authorities began to intensively search a rugged and hilly area in southeastern Kentucky on Sunday for a man suspected of opening fire on nine vehicles and wounding five people on Interstate 75 over the weekend. The suspect, 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, is believed to be responsible for the Saturday shooting spree.

The Associated Press reports the search for Couch has been concentrated in a remote area north of London, Kentucky, a town of about 8,000 people located 75 miles south of Lexington. Authorities recovered his abandoned SUV on a service road near the crime scene, and a semi-automatic weapon was later found nearby, according to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The weapon is believed to have been used in the shooting.

“Where is he? That’s the big question right now,” Acciardo told reporters as law enforcement continued searching the heavily wooded area. Despite the extensive search efforts, which included the use of drones, helicopters, and on-foot patrols, Couch remained at large by nightfall. Acciardo indicated that the search would resume early Monday if Couch was not found overnight.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday near Interstate 75’s exit 49. Authorities believe Couch fired multiple rounds from a position off the highway, striking vehicles traveling in both the northbound and southbound lanes. Nine vehicles were hit, and five people were injured, some seriously. One victim was shot in the face, and others had injuries described as “very serious.” All of the wounded were hospitalized in stable condition as of early Sunday.

The randomness of the attack has left the community in shock. “When our first two units got to the scene, they said it was a madhouse: people on the sides of the road, emergency flashers going, bullet holes, windows shot out, nine vehicles shot,” Acciardo said.

Couch, who was initially considered a person of interest, was upgraded to a suspect on Sunday. Authorities believe there was only one shooter, and while the attack appeared to involve some planning, they described it as a “random act” of violence with no specific target. A possible motive has not been identified.

Residents in the area have been on high alert as the manhunt continues. Local churches canceled services, and community members have been following developments closely. Cody Shepherd, a London resident, described the tension, saying, “We were listening to the police scanners all night” after hearing sirens and seeing a helicopter overhead.

Authorities released a photo of Couch and warned that he is considered armed and dangerous. Court records reveal that Couch has a criminal history, including a 2015 conviction for criminal mischief and unlawful transactions with a minor, as well as a more recent misdemeanor charge for “terroristic threatening” in February, which was later dismissed. He has also faced traffic violations and a public intoxication conviction in 2020.

Acciardo emphasized the difficulty and danger of the search due to the thick foliage and rocky terrain in the area. “He could be hiding behind a tree, and us walk right up on him,” he warned. As darkness fell, the search became even more perilous for first responders.