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Authorities from several law enforcement agencies are helping the Laurel County Sheriff with a manhunt. They’re combing through dense forest wilderness in rural Kentucky, tracking a sniper who shot five people on Interstate 75 Saturday evening. It was easy to rule out “road rage” because the shooter didn’t have a vehicle. The mayhem was planned.
Deputy Sheriff makes a statement
Deputy Sheriff Gilbert Acciardo issued a statement on behalf of Laurel County law enforcement. Nobody has a clue as to motive but this was not a typical “road rage” type shooting.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office ruled that out when they found “an AR-15 in a wooded area by the interstate Sunday afternoon.” They’re pretty sure it’s the one used in the shooting.
They found the assault-style weapon “in a location that he could have shot down upon the interstate from.” In other words, a perfect sniper post. “He was not in a vehicle. No, definitely not road rage,” Acciardo told reporters.
It didn’t take long for the sheriff to identify a suspect. They’re searching the dense woods for Joseph A. Couch.
They’re only calling him a “person of interest” but officials believe he’s the one who “shot into nine cars on the interstate south of Lexington on Saturday.”
He didn’t kill anyone but left “five people seriously injured, closing the interstate for hours and putting the rural community on edge.” The sheriff called for backup from all the local, state and federal agencies he could think of.
North and southbound lanes
From his elevated position, the sniper had a perfect field of fire across both the north and southbound lanes of I-75. Right around 5:30 p.m. as the sun was low on the horizon, the suspect opened fire. All five of the victims are currently listed in stable condition.
Officials with the Laurel County Sheriff explain they “discovered a vehicle registered to the person of interest on a forest service road off exit 49, with an empty gun case inside.”
The vehicle they found was “very near the interstate, but not close enough that the person of interest could have fired from that location.” The sheriff isn’t sure why the vehicle was abandoned but they suspect “he walked closer to the interstate, which is where they recovered the weapon.”
There’s also a pretty good chance that “he may still be in possession of other weapons.” They have everyone with a badge looking for him on land and from the air. “The search coordinated by the sheriff’s office resumed Sunday morning with the help of multiple law enforcement agencies and a drone with infrared heat-sensing technology.”
While they’re asking the community to stay vigilant, the sheriff doesn’t want anyone doing his job for him. Couch is described as “a White man, roughly 5 foot, 10 inches, weighing about 154 pounds.” they’re searching in rugged terrain. “Please remain vigilant and call 911 if you see the individual in question,” London Mayor Randall Weddle wrote on Facebook.
The sheriff quickly added, “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH.” If you spot something, give them a jingle, don’t take the law into your own hands. “If you think you hear something outside of your home, please do not go outside shooting. Our officers could be in that area or first responders. Call 911.“
