On Sunday (September 8th), earlier in the day, police in a rural area near Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky searched for a gunman. The day before, 9 vehicles were hit on the lanes of I-75, with 5 people shot and 2 others injured in related vehicle accidents.
A spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, Gilbert Acciardo, stated that authorities were notified around 5:30 pm on Saturday about a shooting incident along Interstate 75. When law enforcement arrived at the scene in London, a small city about 75 miles south of Lexington, they found numerous vehicles at Exit 49 on the highway.
“When our initial two squads arrived on scene, they described it as chaotic: people standing on the side of the road, emergency lights flashing, numerous bullet holes, shattered windows, and 9 vehicles shot at. Can you imagine? It was a scene of utter chaos,” Acciardo said during a press conference on Sunday.
He also mentioned that 5 people were shot, with their conditions stabilizing on Sunday, but some victims sustained “very serious” injuries, including one person shot in the face. Additionally, 2 individuals were injured in vehicle accidents related to the shooting incident.
Authorities believe there was only one gunman. Acciardo stated that they do not believe the shooting incident was triggered by road rage.
Police blocked traffic in both directions on the highway as they were unsure of the origin of the bullets. “We are still trying to determine that,” Acciardo said.
Authorities are continuing the search for an “armed and dangerous” suspect, with local residents advised to remain vigilant.
Police are currently searching for 32-year-old suspect Joseph A. Couch. He is a white male, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing around 154 pounds.
However, Acciardo cautioned that authorities have “not definitively identified this as the person who fired the shots.”
Randall Weddle, the mayor of London where the shooting took place, stated in a video update on Saturday evening: “We know the general area where this individual is.” He added that he would not provide further details.
Weddle earlier mentioned that authorities were conducting searches in “rough terrain and heavily wooded areas,” which could hinder their efforts.
The motive behind the incident is still unclear. The sheriff’s office stated, “An investigation has been initiated, with leads on a suspect being pursued as the search for the individual continues.”
Scottie Pennington, a spokesperson for the Kentucky State Police, urged residents of Laurel County to remain indoors. Late Saturday night, Mayor Weddle posted a video on Facebook attempting to calm people’s fears. He urged residents to call 911 if they hear or see anything suspicious near their homes. “We’re asking people not to leave their homes because we’ve got emergency personnel operating in that area,” Weddle said.