A manhunt is currently in progress in Kentucky following a shooting incident that left several individuals injured along a highway near London on Saturday.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office has identified 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch as a person of interest in this case, urging the public to consider him armed and dangerous.
The unsettling events began around 6:00 PM local time when authorities were alerted to reports of gunfire directed at vehicles near Interstate 75. Initial investigations suggest that the shots may have originated from a wooded area adjacent to the highway or from an overpass.
As of now, the number of injuries or fatalities remains unconfirmed. However, early statements from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office indicate that “numerous persons” were affected by the shooting. Reports from medical facilities indicate that at least two patients have been admitted for treatment, but their current conditions are still unknown.
Trooper Scottie Pennington from the Kentucky State Police has advised residents in the vicinity to remain indoors while law enforcement conducts the investigation. The public has been cautioned against approaching the identified person of interest, emphasizing the potential danger involved.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is participating in the ongoing search to apprehend Couch. Kentucky’s Governor has also weighed in on the situation, announcing that law enforcement has closed Interstate 75 in both directions near the scene of the shooting. Residents are urged to avoid the area and are asked to “pray for everyone involved.”
London, a small city with a population of around 8,000, is located near the Daniel Boone National Forest.
