Officials in Laurel County, Kentucky say a firearm and vehicle have been recovered as they continue to search for a person of interest in connection to a shooting on I-75 Saturday afternoon near London.During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of Public Affairs Gilbert Acciardo said officials have located an AR-15 Sunday afternoon in a wooded area next to the interstate.Deputies say a car registered to the suspect, 32-year-old Joseph Couch, was recovered late Saturday night.The vehicle was described as a smaller, SUV-type silver Honda.Couch was initially described as a person of interest in the shooting throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning, but Acciardo later shared that he was upgraded to a suspect in the case by police at a subsequent 3 p.m. press conference.Officials responded to Exit 49 and U.S. 25 Saturday evening for reports of an active shooter. Five people were shot and hospitalized with injuries. Acciardo shared that one person had been shot in the face, another in the arm, and a third in the chest.”It will affect these people for the rest of their lives I’m sure,” he said in reference to the victims.Some reports from the scene on Saturday indicated two other people may have sustained injuries from a car crash that was related to the shooting. London Mayor Randall Weddle was among those who had said on Saturday that seven people were initially injured, with not all sustaining injuries from gunshot wounds. Acciardo denied knowing anything about this at the press conference.While officials have not identified any of the victims, authorities Sunday afternoon did say only one of the victims was from Kentucky, while the rest are from out of state.”This is not a road rage incident,” Acciardo said. “We still believe we only have one individual that is involved.”Officials say they believe it’s possible Couch could still be armed, and that they’re waiting on a ballistics report from federal officials to confirm the gun was used.”I think it’s wonderful that we found a weapon,” Acciardo said. “It shows everyone that we’re headed in the right direction. We’re getting reports that he could be elsewhere, but we’re still going on the premise that he’s up there in the woods.”Deputies say the woods in the area where they’re searching are so thick, that their progress is “slow going.” Acciardo said that police believe Couch spent all of Saturday night and Sunday morning in the woods.Officials say they’ve received over 100 calls that they’ve seen Couch, but none have proved fruitful.Another update is expected around 5 p.m. Sunday.
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
Officials in Laurel County, Kentucky say a firearm and vehicle have been recovered as they continue to search for a person of interest in connection to a shooting on I-75 Saturday afternoon near London.
During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of Public Affairs Gilbert Acciardo said officials have located an AR-15 Sunday afternoon in a wooded area next to the interstate.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Deputies say a car registered to the suspect, 32-year-old Joseph Couch, was recovered late Saturday night.
The vehicle was described as a smaller, SUV-type silver Honda.
Couch was initially described as a person of interest in the shooting throughout Saturday night and Sunday morning, but Acciardo later shared that he was upgraded to a suspect in the case by police at a subsequent 3 p.m. press conference.
Officials responded to Exit 49 and U.S. 25 Saturday evening for reports of an active shooter. Five people were shot and hospitalized with injuries. Acciardo shared that one person had been shot in the face, another in the arm, and a third in the chest.
“It will affect these people for the rest of their lives I’m sure,” he said in reference to the victims.
Some reports from the scene on Saturday indicated two other people may have sustained injuries from a car crash that was related to the shooting. London Mayor Randall Weddle was among those who had said on Saturday that seven people were initially injured, with not all sustaining injuries from gunshot wounds. Acciardo denied knowing anything about this at the press conference.
While officials have not identified any of the victims, authorities Sunday afternoon did say only one of the victims was from Kentucky, while the rest are from out of state.
“This is not a road rage incident,” Acciardo said. “We still believe we only have one individual that is involved.”
Officials say they believe it’s possible Couch could still be armed, and that they’re waiting on a ballistics report from federal officials to confirm the gun was used.
“I think it’s wonderful that we found a weapon,” Acciardo said. “It shows everyone that we’re headed in the right direction. We’re getting reports that he could be elsewhere, but we’re still going on the premise that he’s up there in the woods.”
Deputies say the woods in the area where they’re searching are so thick, that their progress is “slow going.”
Acciardo said that police believe Couch spent all of Saturday night and Sunday morning in the woods.
Officials say they’ve received over 100 calls that they’ve seen Couch, but none have proved fruitful.
Another update is expected around 5 p.m. Sunday.
