(NewsNation) — At least seven people were hurt, and I-75 was closed for about three hours in Laurel County, Kentucky, just north of the town of London, after someone started shooting at passing cars around 6:30 p.m. ET.
The shooter has not yet been located, and law enforcement hasn’t released the names of any victims.
Person of interest Joseph Couch
The London Police Department posted a picture of 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, labeling him a “person of interest” in the shootings that left at least seven people hurt.
“***DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH***” is how the agency warned people about the man they deliberately avoided calling a suspect.
The mayor of London, Randall Weddle, in a Facebook video, said that the hunt will be challenging.
“That is some rugged terrain, a lot of tree lines,” he said. “But I’m confident they will apprehend them.”
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He also warned people in London, a town of about 8,000, to be vigilant.
“If you’re home, keep your doors locked. I’m not asking anybody to panic. There’s no immediate danger here in the city. If you’re out and about, just be vigilant.”
Kentucky I-75 shooting
Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies and Kentucky State troopers shut down I-75 around 6:40pm ET Saturday after reports of someone shooting at cars from either an overpass or the rugged, forested hills next to the road.
“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.”
“We will provide more details once they are available. Please avoid the area,” he added.
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Weddle said there were seven people injured, but not all from gunshots. According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, five of the seven were shot. Three were hospitalized in nearby London and two others were airlifted to University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington.
“There is no deceased at this time. No one was killed from this, thankfully,” Weddle said in a live post on Facebook just after 8PM ET.
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“All of our first responders are safe,” he added. “The suspect, or suspects, have not been apprehended at this time, but they are searching for them.”
A “heavy presence of police and fire personnel” was on the scene and “working diligently to address the situation,” the Mount Vernon Fire Department said in a statement. It advised motorists to avoid I-75 and US 25.
I-75 closure
An 18-mile stretch of I-75, a major interstate that runs from the northern tip of Michigan just south of Miami, was closed for about three hours as police searched for a suspect.
It reopened at around 9:25PM ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.