By The search for a suspected gunman who fired into vehicles along Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky entered its third day on Monday, prompting school closures in several counties and a heightened state of alert among local residents.
Joseph A Couch, 32, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and assault in connection with the Saturday evening shooting that injured five people. Authorities believe Couch fled to a remote, rugged area about 9 miles from the city of London after the incident.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported recovering a silver Honda SUV and an AR rifle believed to have been used in the attack. Police also found a phone thought to belong to Couch, though its battery had been removed. An arrest warrant filed for Couch includes five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.
According to police, Couch legally purchased the rifle and approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition hours before the shooting began around 5:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. Authorities now believe 12 vehicles were hit by gunfire along I-75, with shots fired from a ledge on a cliff overlooking the highway.
Five people were wounded in the attack, some with “very serious” injuries, including one person shot in the face. All victims were reported stable as of Sunday and are expected to survive.
The ongoing manhunt has disrupted daily life in the area. Schools in Laurel County and several neighboring counties were closed Monday as a precautionary measure. Some local businesses and churches also remained closed on Sunday.
Kentucky State Police spokesperson Scottie Pennington urged local residents to be vigilant, advising them to lock doors, monitor security cameras, and keep porch lights on while the suspect remains at large.
The search area, described as having very thick woods, has slowed the manhunt. Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office characterized the scene as a “madhouse” when first responders arrived, with people on the roadsides, emergency flashers activated, and bullet-riddled vehicles.
Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the shooting but have characterized it as a random attack rather than a targeted one. Couch previously served in the Army Reserve for about six years as a combat engineer but was never deployed.
As the search continues, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has urged the public to avoid the area and “pray for everyone involved.”
