A large-scale manhunt is underway in Kentucky after a shooting on a highway near the city of London left seven people injured on Saturday evening. The incident, which took place around 5:30 p.m. local time (21:30 GMT), involved shots being fired at multiple vehicles near Interstate 75.
Authorities responded to the scene to discover that nine vehicles had been hit by gunfire. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, seven individuals were injured in the attack, with five sustaining serious injuries. Not all the injuries were caused by gunshots, and fortunately, no fatalities have been reported so far, said London Mayor Randall Weddle.
The suspect has been identified as Joseph A. Couch, 32, who is considered a person of interest. Couch, from Woodbine, Kentucky, is described as 5’10” tall (178 cm) and weighing approximately 154 pounds (70 kg). He is considered armed and dangerous, and the public has been warned not to approach him.
Police reported that shots were fired into vehicles traveling in both directions along the highway. The situation prompted the closure of I-75 for several hours, due to the ongoing threat posed to passing motorists. Initial reports from local media suggest the shots may have been fired from a wooded area near the highway or possibly from an overpass.
In a video posted to Facebook around 9:30 p.m. local time, Mayor Weddle provided an update on the situation, acknowledging that the suspect or suspects had not yet been apprehended. “Where they are currently, that is some rugged terrain and a lot of tree lines,” he noted.
Christina DiNoto, one of the drivers on I-75 at the time of the shooting, shared her experience with CNN, explaining how she initially thought a rock had hit her car when her back window shattered, injuring her ear. “We looked at each other and we were like, ‘Was that a gunshot?’ And then we’re like, ‘No, that wasn’t a gunshot.’” It wasn’t until much later that they realized they had been caught in a shooting.
The Mount Vernon Fire Department later confirmed that a section of the highway near the shooting site had reopened after being closed for about three hours. At least two patients have been transported to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, though there are no details on their condition.
Trooper Scottie Pennington, spokesperson for the Kentucky State Police, urged residents to remain indoors while the search continues. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, are involved in the investigation.
Governor Andy Beshear also addressed the incident on social media, informing the public that I-75 had been shut down in both directions and urging people to avoid the area. He asked for prayers for all those involved.
London, Kentucky, a small city of approximately 8,000 people, is located near the Daniel Boone National Forest. The community remains on high alert as authorities work to locate and apprehend the suspect responsible for the attack.
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