KSP offers reward for continued search for suspect in I-75 shooting, AR-15 seized

LONDON, Ky. (WAVE) – Kentucky State Police are offering a $5,000 reward for anyone who finds the man they say shot and killed five people on I-75 in Laurel County Saturday night. Police say 12 cars were struck by bullets and five people were seriously injured.

According to WLEX18 in Lexington, an NBC affiliate of WAVE News, UK spokesman Jay Blanton said Monday that of the three victims admitted to the UK hospital, one had been discharged and the other two were in “good condition.”

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• Police: AR-15 used in I-75 attack purchased on morning of shooting, suspect still at large

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday afternoon that an AR-15 and a vehicle believed to have been used in connection with the shooting had been seized.

The shooting occurred near Exit 49 of the highway, causing the road to be closed in both directions between Exits 41 and 59.

According to a report from WAVE sister station WYMT, a vehicle described as a silver Toyota CRV was found off a logging road near Exit 49, but not close enough to shoot from. The vehicle was registered to 32-year-old Joseph Couch.

Officers found a gun case in the Toyota. The AR-15 was found in a spot where an LCSO spokesperson said the gunman could have shot onto the highway. They aren’t sure why Couch left the gun behind.

After locating the vehicle and weapon, and withholding further information, police officially upgraded Couch from a person of interest to a suspect.

In an update late Sunday afternoon, an LCSO spokesperson said Couch was likely still in the wooded area and that challenges were expected due to the remoteness of the area.

“This area is so remote. If he planned this, it’s so remote, this is probably one of the most remote exits along I-75. It’s so wooded,” explained Gilbert Acciardo, PAO of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. “There’s a business. There are no residences. He couldn’t have picked an area that’s more remote and difficult for us to find. And that’s what we want to do. We want safety, we don’t want our people to get hurt. We don’t want any more people to get hurt. And we want to get him safely into custody. And that’s a big job.”

Police hope to find Couch before nightfall, but cannot guarantee this due to the rugged and remote landscape.

The spokesman also confirmed that one victim was shot in the face, one in the arm and one in the chest.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root said when officers arrived at the scene, they found nine vehicles shot at in both the northbound and southbound directions and five people were seriously injured. All victims were in stable condition.

Joseph Couch is considered armed and dangerous, so if you see him, stay away and call 911.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated.

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