The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office has identified Joseph A. Couch as a person of interest in the shooting and cautions that he is considered armed and dangerous.
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| Joseph A. Couch has been named by law enforcement as a person of interest in a shooting at Exit 49 of the I-75 near London, Ky., on Sept 7, 2024. |
(NEWS UPDATE USA FAST)-- A manhunt is underway in Laurel County, Kentucky, for a shooter amid reports of multiple people shot in traffic near Interstate-75, about nine miles north of London. The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m.
In an update at 2 am Sunday, the Laurel County Sheriff's Office said initial responding officers found nine vehicles that had been shot across both the northbound and southbound sides of the highway, including five people that were seriously injured.
Earlier tonight, around 9 p.m., the Sheriff's Office named Joseph A. Couch as a person of interest in the shooting and warned Couch should be considered "armed and dangerous." Couch is described as a "32-year-old white male, approximately 5'10, weighing about 154 lbs, from Woodbine, Kentucky.
Authorities are now begging for the public's assistance, stating, "If you have any information concerning the whereabouts or location of this subject, please contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center at 911 or 606-878-7000.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH
The Laurel County Sheriff's Department said Interstate 75 was closed in both directions because of the active shooter situation near Exit 49 and US 25. The road was closed between Exit 41 and 61, US 25, and KY 909 were closed. Motorists were asked to avoid the area and take alternative routes.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear called on people to avoid the area, saying, "I am getting initial reports from the Kentucky State Police and our Office of Homeland Security—we are continuing to monitor and provide any support we can. Please pray for everyone involved," he wrote on social media.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington also used social media to urge residents to stay indoors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on X, formerly Twitter, that agents were working alongside the local agencies responding to the critical incident.
Mount Vernon Fire Department updated, The time to reopen the interstate is unknown at this time. Still avoid the area, use alternate routes, and follow detour signs and instructions from authorities.
As of 9 p.m., heavy traffic and delays continued along the detour routes, and officials urged drivers to steer clear of the area if possible.
The sheriff's office tweeted shortly after 10 p.m. that I-75 had reopened in both directions, but the suspect hadn't been found. "The scene will be contained overnight, with an active search and ongoing investigation to continue at daybreak on Sunday morning," the office tweeted in an update.