Sept 8 (Askume) – A man suspected of opening fire on cars traveling on Interstate 75 in rural Kentucky fled on Sunday night after multiple law enforcement agencies spent a day searching for him through rugged, wooded terrain.
Kentucky State Police are searching for suspect Joseph Couch, 32, after police found a vehicle registered in his name and an AR-style rifle near the scene of the shooting, which occurred about 12.9 miles (3.2 km) southeast of London, Kentucky.
Five people were injured in the firing and are currently in stable condition. One victim was shot in the face and the other victim was shot in the hand.
Laurel County Sheriff’s Capt. Richard Dalrymple told reporters at a news conference Sunday night that Couch was believed to have purchased weapons and ammunition Saturday morning.
Couch is accused of firing a bullet from a rock in a remote area of the interstate highway about 5:30 p.m. (2130 GMT) on Saturday, authorities said. At least 12 vehicles were hit.
“We’re not going to rest on this case until we find him and take him into custody,” said Michael Stansbury, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Louisville, Ky., field office.
Police are still investigating the motive for the shooting.
Residents were urged to lock their doors, remain vigilant, and stay away from the search area, where police believe Couch was being held hostage and armed.
Couch, a native of southern Kentucky, served in the National Guard for four years as a member of an engineer battalion, Dalrymple said. He has no serious criminal record.
Dalrymple said ground troops stopped searching thousands of acres of forest after dark on Sunday because of the dangers posed by the rugged terrain, but patrols would still be deployed around the area. Search teams are using helicopters and drones equipped with infrared technology, and federal, state and local agencies are monitoring the case.
Laurel County Public Schools canceled classes Monday out of an abundance of caution.
The shooting came three days after two students and two teachers were killed and nine others were injured at a high school in Winder, Georgia .
