Authorities search for shooters along I-75 in southeast Kentucky

LONDON, Kentucky — Authorities were searching Sunday for a man possibly connected to the shooting of nine vehicles and wounding of five people on a highway in rural southeastern Kentucky.

Although they said they could not yet name him as a suspect in Saturday's shootings along busy Interstate 75, authorities said they considered 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch a “person of interest” and were searching for him in a remote area of ​​rugged and hilly terrain north of London, a community of about 8,000 people about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Lexington.

“We're going to go in and find this guy,” Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesman for the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, told reporters Sunday.

Authorities believe Couch, a white man, is armed and dangerous and warned passersby who might see him not to approach.

Acciardo said authorities were notified of gunshots along the highway near Exit 49 around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. A person “off that exit” fired several shots into the northbound and southbound lanes, hitting nine vehicles and injuring five people, he said.

“When our first two units arrived on the scene, they said it was a madhouse: people on the side of the road, hazard lights on, bullet holes, windows shot out, nine vehicles shot at. Can you imagine? Just chaos,” Acciardo said during a press conference.

The injured were taken to hospital early Sunday in stable condition. Some had “very serious” injuries, including one person who was shot in the face, Acciardo said.

Laurel County residents were on edge as authorities searched on foot Sunday in a remote wooded area near the highway that contains only a business and a few homes. The London Laurel Rescue Unit sent a drone to assist. Laurel County state deputies urged residents in the area to stay home during the search.

“We've received numerous calls from all over the county and are still getting calls this morning,” Acciardo said of calls from concerned community members. “This is a remote area. If he picked a place to do something like this, this was the perfect place.”

Rodney Goodlett, pastor of Faith Assembly of God in London, directed traffic as congregants gathered for a Sunday morning service. He said he expected the searches would reduce attendance.

“There are definitely people … who probably won't be here today – they're just nervous because the suspect is still at large,” he said.

Goodlett said the congregation will pray for the community, the injured and first responders, some of whom attend Faith Assembly, where about 275 congregants pray each week.

“It's obviously tragic that someone would randomly commit acts of violence,” he said. “You hear in the media what's happening all over our country, but when you remember it at home, it's a bit of a wake-up call.”

Authorities believe there was only one shooter, and Acciardo said they do not believe the shooting was sparked by road rage. Authorities released a photo of Couch and warned residents to be vigilant, but Acciardo cautioned they have “not determined this is the person who fired the gun.”

“We have cordoned off the area at the moment. The investigation is still very slow. Our people are still on site. Our special operations team is there. We are trying to find a shooter there,” he said.

In a video update on Facebook late Saturday night, London Mayor Randall Weddle sought to allay fears, 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 assistance in any way possible,” Governor Andy Beshear said in a post on X. “Please pray for everyone involved.”