A manhunt is in progress in Kentucky following a dramatic shooting incident on Interstate 75 near London on Saturday evening. The attack, which occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. GMT), left seven people injured—five of them seriously. Police discovered that nine vehicles had been targeted by gunfire along the highway.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff, not all injuries were gunshot-related, and fortunately, no fatalities have been reported. Authorities have identified Joseph A. Couch, 32, as a person of interest in the case. Described as 5’10” (178 cm) and weighing approximately 154 pounds (70 kg), Couch is considered armed and dangerous. He hails from Woodbine, Kentucky.
Shots were fired into vehicles traveling in both directions on the highway, leading to the closure of I-75 for several hours. The attack may have originated from a wooded area or an overpass near the highway.
London Mayor Randall Weddle, in a video update on Facebook, indicated that the search for the suspect(s) is ongoing in a rugged and heavily wooded area. Christina DiNoto, a witness who was driving on the highway during the shooting, described the moment as hearing a loud noise and initially mistaking it for a rock hitting her car. It was later confirmed to be a gunshot.
The Mount Vernon Fire Department reported that a section of I-75 near the incident has since reopened, after being closed for about three hours. The University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington confirmed receiving at least two patients from the incident, but their conditions have not been disclosed.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington advised residents to stay indoors and avoid approaching the person of interest. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is also assisting in the search. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged the public to avoid the area and to “pray for everyone involved.”
London, a small city with a population of about 8,000, is located near the Daniel Boone National Forest.