Local, state and federal authorities in Kentucky continued searching Thursday for the suspected I-75 shooter, fugitive Joseph A. Couch, in heavily wooded areas of the state's southeastern region.
Couch, 32, is accused of firing dozens of shots onto Interstate 75 near Exit 49 in Laurel County on Sept. 7 from a wooded area off the side of the interstate, wounding five people.
“I'm gonna kill a bunch of people. At least I'll try,” Couch allegedly wrote in a text message around 5 p.m. on September 7.
“I then planned to kill myself,” he said, according to the affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital.
Kentucky interstate shooting suspect has military experience and remains at large 48 hours after attack
Authorities are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of fugitive Joseph Couch. (U.S. Marshals Office)
Jeremy Honaker, acting U.S. marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky, described the area where authorities are searching for the fugitives as “very wooded and rural.” [Daniel] “Boone National Forest”
“We're just here to assist,” he said of the USMS, adding that the FBI, along with the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, London Police and Kentucky State Police, are “providing tremendous assistance” in the search for Couch.
“This is a collaborative effort to get a dangerous individual off the street,” Honaker said.
'It's like a jungle' as Kentucky officers cut through brush with machetes as search enters third day
Trees line a wooded area along Interstate 75 near Livingston, Kentucky, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, as police search for a suspect in a shooting that happened along the interstate on Saturday. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
The marshals also said it was “possible” that Couch could survive on his own in the southeastern Kentucky wilderness, given his military background. Honaker was unsure of Couch's level of expertise in surviving in the woods. Couch was in the National Guard.
Authorities believe Couch fired between 20 and 30 shots on Sept. 7.
Kentucky State Police find SUV and AR-15 in search of I-75 shooter
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear met with police Thursday during the search for Joseph Couch. (Governor Andy Beshear)
Officers recovered Couch's Cobalt AR-15 rifle and a small silver SUV, but Couch remains at large.
An employee at Center Target Firearms told police that Couch spent about $3,000 on an AR-15 and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Apalachee High School shooting victim Mason Schermerhorn sent final message to mother from bathroom, pastor says
Suspect Joseph Couch remains on the run 48 hours after he opened fire near an interstate in Kentucky. (WDKY/London Police)
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear met with police on Thursday as they searched for Couch. Beshear said four shooting victims have been released from the hospital and a fifth is expected to survive.
Authorities have issued five warrants for Couch's arrest, one for each of the gunshot wounds, charging him with attempted murder and assault, according to the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to Couch's identification.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Anyone with information on Couch's whereabouts is asked to contact the Laurel County Sheriff at 606-864-6600 or the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED-2.
Fox News' Steven Sorace contributed to this report.
