LONDON, Ky. (WDKY) — The search for a man possibly linked to a Saturday night shooting along a Kentucky interstate that injured five continued Sunday morning.
Though they have not named him as a suspect, police said 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch is considered a “person of interest.” Authorities were searching for him in a remote area of rugged and hilly terrain north of London, a community of about 8,000 people roughly 75 miles south of Lexington.
“We’re going to go in and we’re going to find this guy,” Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters Sunday. He said law enforcement got a “lucky break” that led them to zero in on Couch as a person of interest, but that he couldn’t elaborate.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office warned Couch is considered armed and dangerous, and advised the public not to attempt to approach him.
Anyone with information regarding Couch’s whereabouts or location is asked to contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center by calling 911 or 606-878-7000.
At around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office closed a portion of Interstate 75 near London due to an active shooter situation.
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Acciardo said authorities were notified about 5:30 p.m. Saturday about gunshots along Interstate 75. When they arrived at the scene, they found numerous vehicles on the side of the highway at Exit 49. An individual who was “off that exit” fired multiple rounds into the northbound and southbound lanes, striking nine vehicles and wounding five people, he said. The shooter was not in a vehicle at the time.
“When our first two units got to the scene there, they said it was a madhouse: people on the sides of the road, emergency flashers going, bullet holes, windows shot out, nine vehicles shot. Can you imagine that? Just chaotic,” Acciardo said during a news conference Sunday.
The sheriff’s office told Nexstar’s WDKY that five people had been shot. As of Saturday night, all five were listed as being in stable condition, although some of the victims had “very serious” injuries, including one person who was shot in the face, Acciardo said.
Two other people were hurt in the vehicle accident, he said.
Residents of Laurel County were on edge as authorities searched on foot Sunday in a remote wooded area near the highway that has only one business and a few houses nearby. London Laurel Rescue squad sent a drone to assist. State lawmakers from Laurel County urged residents in the area to stay home during the search.
“We had numerous calls throughout the county and we’re still getting them this morning,” Acciardo said, of calls from concerned community members. “This is a remote area. If he was going to target some place that he wanted to do something like this, it was the perfect spot.”
Rodney Goodlett, pastor of Faith Assembly of God in London, was helping direct traffic as parishioners gathered for a service Sunday morning. He said he expected the search to hold down attendance.
“There’s definitely people … that probably won’t be here today — just nervous with the suspect still at large,” he said.
Goodlett said the congregation was going to pray for the community, the wounded and the first responders, some of whom attend Faith Assembly, where around 275 parishioners pray each week.
“This is tragic, obviously, that somebody would randomly do violent acts,” he said. “You hear media things taking place all around our country, but then when it hits home, it’s a little 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 on the lookout, but Acciardo cautioned that they “have not determined that this is the individual that fired the weapon.”
“We do have the area contained right now. It’s a very fluid investigation. Our people are still on the scene. Our special response team is there. We are trying to find a shooter there,” he said.
Acciardo said the search is dangerous for first responders and is painstaking because of thick foliage: “He could be hiding behind a tree and us walk right up on him.”
“We’re just hoping for a good resolution,” Acciardo said.
State lawmakers from Laurel County urged residents in the area to stay home as police continued to search for the shooter.
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“Without a doubt, this is an act of senseless violence that does not reflect the values of this community, our Commonwealth, or its people,” they said in a statement.
In a video update on Facebook late Saturday night, London Mayor Randall Weddle tried to calm fears as the search continued for the gunman. He urged residents to call 911 if they hear or see anything suspicious near their homes.
Below: London, KY mayor gives an update following the shooting from a livestream hosted on the city‘s Facebook page
“We’re asking folks, please, do not go outside your home shooting because we might have first responders in that area. It’s important to know you are safe. We have multiple agencies in this community, in the city of London and in Laurel County,” Weddle said.
Weddle said searchers “know the general area where this individual is,” but he would not release specific details.
“I am receiving initial reports from the Kentucky State Police and our Office of Homeland Security — together we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in any way possible,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a post on the social platform X. “Please pray for everyone involved.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.