What happened in Interstate 75 shooting? What to know about victims, search for suspect
Dozens of law enforcement officers are combing through part of the Daniel Boone National Forest for an "armed and dangerous" person of interest in Sunday evening's shooting on Interstate 75 near Exit 49 and U.S. Route 25.
The person, identified by police as 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, is believed to be in a wooded, remote area off the interstate with dense foliage and rocky terrain.
"I've been in law enforcement here for 48 years, and I can never remember a situation such as this in our little county here," said Gilbert Acciardo, public affairs deputy with the Laurel County Sheriff’s office.
Here's a breakdown of what happened early Saturday evening and where the active search lies:
5:30 p.m. Saturday: First 911 call for reported gunshots
Laurel County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the area near Exit 49 on I-75, eight miles south of London, Kentucky, around 5:30 p.m. Saturday after reports of a gunshot victim on the roadway.
Upon arrival, officers saw several vehicles parked on the side of the highway with windows shot out and visible bullet holes, according to Acciardo.
Nine vehicles were shot at on both sides of the roadway with five individuals injured. Of those injured, two were in one car and the other three were each in separate vehicles.
Some suffered gunshot injuries so severe, Acciardo added, that deputies loaded them into their own vehicles and drove them to a nearby hospital for treatment. All victims are expected to survive, Acciardo said.
Acciardo described the initial scene as "chaotic" as officers had to sort through multiple false reports of what had occurred and who they should be searching for.
Police believe the shooter was standing near the wooded area off the highway and fired at cars in both the northbound and southbound lanes. Acciardo declined to say how long the shooting lasted or how many rounds are believed to have been fired.
The wooded area is near a very popular exit of a major highway, Acciardo noted, adding: "If he was going to target someplace that he wanted to do something like this, it was the perfect spot."
6:30 p.m.: Police announce I-75 closure
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office announced via social media the interstate had been shut down in both directions due to the shooting.
7:30 p.m.: Police start searching in wooded area
Law enforcement began searching for the shooter in the wooded area near the scene, according to Acciardo.
8:30 p.m.: Police find nearby suspicious car, announce 'person of interest'
Police officers found a suspicious, unoccupied vehicle on a Forest Service road at the top of the hill off of Exit 49, near the location where the shooter is believed to have fired from. Inside the vehicle, police found a gun case, but no weapon.
The car was registered in Couch's name, leading police to publicly release his name as a person of interest and begin a search for him.
Couch is described as a white male, 5-foot-10, weighing approximately 154 pounds. He is believed to be from Whitley County, a neighboring area south of Laurel, with no known ties to any of the victims or Laurel County.
At this time, police believe that he operated alone and is not receiving local assistance to evade capture.
9:30 p.m.: I-75 reopens
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office announced in a Facebook post that the interstate had reopened in both the northbound and southbound directions as the search for the suspect continued.
3 a.m. Sunday: Search placed on pause
Police decided it was too dangerous to continue the search in the dark, Acciardo said, and it was officially called off for the night.
9 a.m.: Search resumes with federal, state assistance
Early Sunday morning, officers were assembled outside of the search area and began canvassing the dense forestry. About 30 to 40 officers from local, state and federal agencies are part of the investigative team in addition to a drone with infrared detection flying above the area.
Throughout the small city of London, Kentucky, multiples businesses closed indoor service and operated only via drive throughs due to the active search for Couch. Several churches in London cancelled regular services.
11 a.m. Sunday: Search impeded by dense forestry, police advise vigilance in county
Dense foliage and rocky terrain have impeded law enforcement’s search of the wooded area where Couch is believed to be hiding, Acciardo told reporters. The area also has several large road cuts that Couch could potentially be hiding underneath.
Acciardo described the search area as "very remote," with sparse commercial and residential buildings. Couch is not believed to have entered any residential areas.
Acciardo said authorities are still confident that Couch is in the woods but added that the community should stay vigilant: “You know, he could pop up anywhere. I hate to say that, but he could.”
1:30 p.m. Sunday: Police announce discovery of AR-15 in wooded area
Police have recovered an AR-15 in the wooded area that they believe could have been used in the shooting, Acciardo said. Fully charged magazines were also found nearby.
The suspect could be armed with another weapon, Acciardo said — encouraging the public to remain cautious. While police are also searching for Couch outside of the forest area, police still believe he is inside the woods, according to Acciardo.