Authorities search for shooter along I-75 in southeast Kentucky, up to 7 people injured – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio

LONDON, Kentucky — (AP) — A police manhunt was underway early Sunday morning for a gunman in a rural area of ​​southeastern Kentucky near Interstate 75. Authorities said as many as seven people were injured in the shooting and a car crash that accompanied the violence.

The shooting began shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday and prompted an intensive search for a suspect by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Laurel County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook that it was an “active shooting” and that “numerous people” were shot near the highway.

In a video statement, London Mayor Randall Weddle said he had been told seven people were injured, but not all of them were injured by gunfire. Some of the victims were injured in an accident early in the shooting, he said.

London, a small town with about 8,000 inhabitants, is located about 120 kilometers south of Lexington.

“There are currently no fatalities. Fortunately, no one has lost their lives, but we ask that you continue to pray,” Weddle said.

Hospital officials at Saint Joseph London said in a statement that several patients were being treated at the facility, LEX 18 reported. The hospital added that those admitted had minor injuries. Jay Blanton, a spokesman for the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, said two victims were admitted but he had no information on their conditions.

The sheriff's office also announced that a “person of interest” has been identified in connection with the shooting. This person is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. The man's name was given as Joseph A. Couch, a 32-year-old white male. Anyone with information on his whereabouts was asked to call the county's emergency dispatch center.

Laurel County state lawmakers urged area residents to stay home while police continue to search for the shooter.

“Without a doubt, this is an act of senseless violence that does not reflect the values ​​of this community, our Commonwealth or its people,” it said in a statement.

A “strong police and fire presence” is on site and is “working diligently to resolve the situation,” the Mount Vernon Fire Department said in a statement. It advised motorists to avoid I-75 and US 25.

The highway was closed 14 kilometers north of London, but was reopened about three hours later, according to the sheriff's office.

In a video update on Facebook late Saturday night, Weddle sought to allay fears as the search for the shooter continued, urging residents to call 911 if they hear or see anything suspicious near their homes.

“We're asking people not to stand outside the house and shoot because we may have first responders in the area. It's important to know you're safe. We have multiple agencies in this community, in the city of London and in Laurel County,” Weddle said.

Weddle said search crews “know the approximate area where the person is located,” but declined to provide specific details.

“I am receiving initial reports from the Kentucky State Police and our Homeland Security Office – together we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in any way possible,” Governor Andy Beshear said in a post on the social platform X. “Please pray for everyone involved.”

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