Following a major shooting event along Interstate 75 (I-75), authorities in Laurel County, Kentucky, have placed their community under high alert.
Joseph A. Couch, 32, of Woodbine, Kentucky, is the suspect; he is regarded as armed and dangerous.
Law enforcement said that Couch, a former member of the armed forces, has threatened to “kill a lot of people today” in clear and frightening terms.
The horrifying incidents happened close to Exit 49/KY-909 on I-75. A car was being targeted by gunfire fired from an elevated location by an unknown person. Witnesses said they heard gunfire cracking quickly and saw many cars swerving in fear as bullets broke through windshields.
The number of verified casualties of the shooting is at least five. Several people are reportedly shot while inside their cars, though the identities of the injured have not been made public.
While emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the area to cater to the injured, the suspect managed to escape before police could capture him.
Law enforcement officials are conducting a large manhunt for Couch, who is said to be carrying an AR-15 weapon and about 2,000 rounds of ammunition. As a result, the public is currently on high alert.
His extensive training and previous military experience have simply made the situation more dire. Authorities have made it clear that Couch is dangerous and has to be avoided at all costs.
Joseph A. Couch is a Caucasian man who stands 5’10” and weighs about 154 pounds. He is regarded as a “Person of Interest” in the current study. Additional resources have been sent to aid in the manhunt, and law enforcement agencies, including federal authorities, state troopers, and local police, are aggressively looking for him.