Police have reportedly discovered the body of a suspected gunman linked to a highway shooting incident that injured five individuals in Kentucky nearly two weeks ago. Authorities believe the remains belong to Joseph Couch, the primary suspect, and this conclusion comes after the discovery of various accessories during a manhunt in Laurel County.
Couch has been sought by law enforcement since September 7, when he allegedly opened fire on vehicles traveling on Interstate 75 before fleeing into a densely wooded area. Although law enforcement officials are still in the process of formally identifying the remains, they are expected to perform an autopsy to establish the cause of death.
The remains were found in the afternoon after a chance encounter between local troopers and civilians, who were drawn to the area by circling vultures. It remains uncertain how long the body had been concealed and the specific cause of death, but an unspecified weapon was also recovered at the scene.
Community members alongside officers conducted extensive searches across approximately 28,000 acres in the rugged terrain surrounding the shooting site. Laurel County Sheriff John Root commented on the situation, expressing hope that the discovery would alleviate the fear felt by local residents, stating, “That’s not normal here in Laurel County.”
The area in question is located roughly nine miles from the city of London in southeastern Kentucky. Law enforcement noted that Couch had allegedly targeted multiple vehicles, hitting around a dozen during the incident. Fortunately, all five victims survived, though some sustained serious injuries, including one person shot in the face.
Text messages sent by Couch prior to the incident revealed his intentions to cause harm, with one message stating, “I’m going to kill a lot of people… Well, (I’m going to) try at least.” Additionally, Couch’s family has been reported as cooperative throughout the investigation, which led to the temporary closure of schools in the surrounding area during the early stages of the manhunt.
