Kentucky: Gunman Joseph Couch Considered Armed and Dangerous as Search Enters Third Day

Washington: Schools across multiple counties in southeastern Kentucky were closed Monday as authorities continued their search for 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, suspected of wounding five people in a shooting spree along Interstate 75. Residents were urged to stay vigilant, lock their doors, and keep porch lights on as the manhunt entered its third day.

Couch, considered armed and dangerous, is believed to be hiding in the rural woods near London, Kentucky. Authorities have recovered a silver Honda SUV, an AR rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a cellphone, likely belonging to Couch. He reportedly purchased a gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition just hours before the shooting on Saturday.

The shooting began around 5:30 p.m. Saturday when deputies responded to reports of vehicles struck by bullets near Exit 49 of I-75. A dozen vehicles were found riddled with gunfire, with some of the victims suffering severe injuries. Two wounded individuals remain hospitalized, though both are in stable condition.

Initial reports suggested the shooting stemmed from road rage between two vehicles, but authorities later determined the gunman was targeting random vehicles while camped out along the highway.

Couch, who served four years in the National Guard, has no significant criminal record. He is described as a 5-foot-10 white male weighing around 154 pounds. The FBI, ATF, Kentucky State Police, and local law enforcement are all involved in the manhunt.

London, the seat of Laurel County with a population of about 7,500, is located approximately 90 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky. Part of the Daniel Boone National Forest lies within the county, which has become a focal point in the ongoing search for Couch. Authorities have vowed to continue the hunt until Couch is apprehended.