Authorities in Laurel County, Kentucky, are on their third day in the pursuit of Joseph A. Couch, 32, who is the lead suspect in Saturday’s shooting that injured five and shut down I-75 for three hours.
Couch reportedly fired a total of 20 to 30 rounds into both south- and northbound lanes of the interstate, hitting up to 12 cars and causing numerous collisions. On Sunday, London, Kentucky, mayor Randle Weddle told The Courier Journal that there were no fatalities but that all injured victims were in the hospital.
What happened in Laurel County on Saturday?
Around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, authorities responded to calls of an active shooter on I-75, near Exit 49 in Laurel County. According to police, Couch is believed to have been firing from a hillside that overlooked the congested road. Earlier that morning, authorities say that Couch legally purchased an AR-15 rifle and up to 1,000 rounds of ammunition in London, Kentucky, a city eight miles from Exit 49, which has a population of 7,600 and sits 75 miles south of Lexington.
Later that Saturday, authorities recovered Couch’s SUV on a service road near the scene, and on Sunday later retrieved the weapon from a wooded area, which they believe is the location from which he shot into the interstate.
Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesman for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, told The Courier Journal that as of Sunday, all five victims are in stable condition and are expected to survive. Acciardo reported that of the five victims shot, one was shot in the face, another in the arm, and another in the chest.
Who is Joseph A. Couch?
Joseph A. Couch is a 32-year-old Kentucky native who, according to WKYT-TV, served six years in the Army reserve (some outlets had previously reported he was in the National Guard). The Laurel County sheriff’s office described him to be about 5-foot-10-inches tall and weighing around 154 pounds. Couch’s most recent address was reported to be in Woodbine, Kentucky, 20 miles south of the scene.
In February of this year, Couch was charged with terroristic threatening in Knox County after threatening his neighbor with an “AR.” The charges were later dropped.
According to authorities, Couch didn’t seem to have a particular target in mind, although they believe he strategically picked the location. The area’s rocky terrain, which is reportedly difficult to navigate, seemingly aided in his getaway, making the search difficult due to what authorities described as “walking in a jungle” because of the need for machetes to cut through the woods.
Couch is charged with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault. According to the Lexington Herald Leader, police can possibly charge him with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief for shooting into the cars of the people who were not hurt.
What’s next in the search for the alleged Kentucky shooter?
With authorities on their third day of searching, Kentucky State Police master trooper Scottie Pennington told local stations it was their recommendation for residents to stay in the house, keep their porch lights on, and monitor any security devices they may have.
School districts in the area canceled school on Monday to ensure the safety and protection of students and staff. Rolling Stone requested information from the Laurel County Board of Education on whether school will resume tomorrow. An employee from the district, who declined to share their name and title, said that the decision was pending and will be announced on Facebook.
Mayor Weddle has encouraged anyone with information to call the authorities with tips and told local news station WKYT-TV that a private donor is offering to pay $10,000 in reward for any information that leads to Couch’s arrest. Kentucky State Police are offering an additional $5,000, bringing the reward total to $15,000.