A shooting incident along a Kentucky highway on Saturday night resulted in five people sustaining serious injuries, prompting an urgent search for a person of interest deemed “armed and dangerous.”
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported that a segment of Interstate 75, located eight miles north of London, was closed during the law enforcement response but has since been reopened.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators discovered that nine vehicles had been fired upon in both directions on I-75, leading to five serious injuries. Deputy Gilbert Acciardo indicated on Sunday that all injured individuals are expected to survive. A search for the person of interest continued through the night until 3 a.m., resuming at dawn with a contingent of 50 to 60 officers involved in the operation.
London Mayor Randall Weddle expressed gratitude that no fatalities occurred due to the incident, mentioning in a video on Facebook that the community should continue to pray for those affected. He previously noted that injuries resulted from both gunfire and traffic collisions, although further details regarding the specific injuries were not clarified.
Saint Joseph London Hospital confirmed it had treated multiple patients from the shooting, all with minor injuries. A representative from the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital added that they admitted two patients linked to the incident but did not disclose further information about their conditions.
Joseph A. Couch, 32, has been identified as the person of interest by Kentucky State Police and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. He is described as a white male standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 154 pounds. Deputy Acciardo stated that while Couch is not currently categorized as a suspect, authorities are confident they have him contained in a remote area and expect to locate him soon.
The sheriff’s office has advised the public not to approach Couch but to promptly report any sightings to law enforcement. Deputy Acciardo emphasized the search’s focus on wooded areas near the interstate.
Couch’s father, Dale Couch, expressed astonishment at the situation and mentioned their strained relationship, stating they had not communicated in nearly three years. He voiced hopes for everyone’s safety and for his son to surrender to authorities.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear acknowledged the incident on social media, assuring that state officials were closely monitoring the situation and providing necessary support.
Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are supporting local authorities in the investigation. Traffic on Interstate 75 has since returned to normal in both directions, as reported by the Mount Vernon Fire Department.