Thousands of Kentucky students were unable to attend school Monday. Residents were warned to lock doors, turn on porch lights, and stay vigilant during the third day of the search for a shooter who injured five people while on an interstate spree.
Authorities searched the deep woods of this rural area in southeastern Kentucky to find Joseph A. Couch. They warned him that he was dangerous and armed. State Police offer a reward of $5,000 for information that leads to his arrest.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported that they recovered a silver Honda, an AR-style rifle, and hundreds of ammo rounds. Couch bought a legal gun and 1,000 ammunition rounds on Saturday, just hours before his shooting spree. Authorities found a phone that was missing a battery and believed it belonged to Couch.
London Mayor Randall Weddle confirmed that Couch is facing five counts of attempted murder and five charges of assault in the first degree. He encouraged the 8,000 residents of his town to stay calm and concentrate on healing and community.
“I know that emotions are high,” he told reporters on Monday. Together, we can navigate through this difficult time with compassion and strength. “We are London-Laurel County Strong, we are Kentucky Strong.”
The Kentucky State Police led the search. Master Trooper Scottie Pennington of the State Police said that troopers were searching in a “jungle”, and they needed machetes to cut through thickets. Criminal investigation was handled by the sheriff’s department. ATF, the FBI, and local law enforcement agencies also played a role.
Michael Stansbury is the Special Agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation field office located in Louisville, Kentucky.
What happened in the shooting?
Gilbert Acciardo is the spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. He said that deputies who responded to a 911 at around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday discovered vehicles parked near the highway with bullet wounds. Later, authorities determined that at least 12 vehicles were hit. He said that some of the injured were “severely wounded”.
The hospital released a statement on Monday saying that two people injured in the shooting were being treated by Albert B. Chandler Hospital. They are both in good condition. Mary Branham from CHI Saint Joseph Health also released a press release Monday morning stating that multiple people were treated and released at the hospital.
Acciardo stated that initial reports indicated that the shooting was an incident of road rage between two vehicles. Acciardo stated that officers later discovered the shooter camped near Exit 49 and was firing at cars passing by.
Who is Joseph Couch?
Authorities said Couch was in the Army Reserve between 2013 and 2019. He was a member of a battalion of engineers but had no criminal record. Weddle, NBC News’s senior reporter, said Couch suffered from post-traumatic disorder.
The suspect has been described as a 5-foot-10 white male weighing 154 pounds. Authorities warn people not to approach him because he is dangerous and armed.
Acciardo stated Saturday night that there was not enough information for Couch to be considered a suspect. By Sunday afternoon he was a suspect. Acciardo stated that Couch lives in Woodbine, a Whitley County community located south of Laurel County. Officials have said that they have
The house of Couch and his family was searched, and they are cooperating in the investigation.
