OAN Staff James Meyers
8:49 AM – Monday, September 9, 2024
A manhunt for a Kentucky man has entered its third day on Monday as officers hacked through “jungle”-like terrain with machetes in search of a suspect who opened fire close to Interstate 75 over the weekend, wounding five people and striking 12 vehicles, according to authorities.
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Meanwhile, officers have searched through a rugged, hilly area of southeastern Kentucky since the shooting took place on Saturday evening, near exit 49. Officers have recovered an AR-15 rifle and a small silver-colored SUV registered to the suspect, 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, as he remains on the run.
As Sunday night came, the search ended with no signs of Couch. The search picked back up Monday morning with a distinct focus on a remote area close to eight miles north of London.
“As this continues, it becomes more stressful for the community, it becomes more stressful for the officers that are there because we’re looking … and we’re trying to find him, and we haven’t found him,” said Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, multiple school districts in the rural area canceled classes Monday for safety reasons. Officials warned the public to lock doors, keep porch lights on and continue to monitor security cameras.
Meanwhile, Couch was initially named as a person of interest before authorities found the vehicle close to the crime scene.
Police stated that the suspect purchased the weapon and close to 1,000 rounds of ammunition Saturday morning in London. Couch also has a military background, serving four years in the National Guard for at least four years, according to Capt. Richard Dalrymple of the sheriff’s office.
Investigators claimed Couch fired close to 30 rounds from a wooded area close to the highway where Acciardo said, “he could have shot down upon the interstate.” Acciardo also stated that Couch most likely picked this location because it is remote with terrain that is hilly, rocky and hard to navigate.
Furthermore, officials said troopers are being brought in from around the state to aid the manhunt, and investigators have been following multiple tips from the public.
“We’re not going to quit until we do lay hands on him,” Laurel County Sheriff John Root said Sunday night.
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