OAN Staff Avril Elfi
Sunday, September 8, 2024 12:03 PM
The search is still on for a suspect in a shooting on a Kentucky highway that left seven people injured.
advertisement
Authorities say they are still searching for a suspect in a shooting on a Kentucky highway Saturday night that left nine vehicles shot, injured seven people, caused a car crash and closed the interstate for several hours.
Joseph A. Couch, 32, has been identified as the suspect being investigated. According to the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, Couch is “considered to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached.”
At a press conference Sunday morning, Laurel County Undersheriff Gilbert Atcharo said Couch is still believed to be in the area after allegedly fleeing a shooting on a highway near London, Kentucky.
“We're not listing him as a suspect at this time, but it's likely he will be a suspect later today,” Acciardo said.
Acciardo said the shooting was “sniper-like” and not the result of road rage or a random attack, and that the gunman did not know any of the victims or have had any previous contact with them.
Acciardo added that up to 60 officers searched the scene of the shooting until 3 a.m. Sunday, but then called off the search due to safety concerns. The search for Couch resumed at 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, Acciardo said.
Authorities said the shooting began around 5:30 p.m. local time near Exit 49 on Interstate 75, about eight miles north of London.
Laurel County Sheriff John Root said at a news conference late Saturday night that when deputies arrived on the scene they found nine vehicles struck by gunfire in both north-south lanes of Interstate 75.
Officers found five people with serious injuries, including to the face, Root said. He said two of the gunshot victims were in one car.
All of the victims' injuries are non-life threatening and they are in stable condition, Acciardo said.
“Given the severity of the injuries, several officers loaded the injured into a vehicle and transported him to London Hospital,” Root said.
Authorities said two more people were injured in a car crash that occurred during the shooting.
Interstate 75 was immediately closed in both directions and troopers did not know at the time where the shots came from, Root said.
Following the shooting, Interstate 75 was closed for more than three hours as law enforcement worked to secure the scene and collect evidence.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting local authorities in the investigation, officials said.
Stay up to date! Receive the latest news directly in your email for free. Sign up here: https://www.oann.com/alerts
Advertisement below
Please share this post!
