Investigations

Ky. Police Search for Gunman who Fired onto Interstate, Seriously Injuring 5

Sept. 9, 2024

A 32-year-old man faces five counts of attempted murder after he allegedly shot into 12 cars from a hillside ledge overlooking a busy interstate in Laurel County.

By Bill Estep

Source Lexington Herald-Leader

Authorities have obtained warrants charging a Kentucky man with attempted murder for allegedly shooting into cars on Interstate 75 on Saturday, seriously injuring five people.

The warrants charge Joseph A. Couch, 32, with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, the felony prosecutor for Laurel County, where the shootings occurred.

The murder and assault charges are based on the injuries and attacks on the same five people.

Police could also charge Couch with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief for shooting into other cars where people were not hurt.

Police said Couch is believed to have shot into a total of 12 cars on I-75 Saturday at about 5:30 p.m. from a vantage point on a ledge hillside overlooking the busy road in northern Laurel County.

Police have not released information on the motive for the shootings, but have recovered his vehicle and the AR-15 assault-style rifle believed to have been used in the shooting.

Police have been searching for Couch in rugged terrain in a heavily wooded area near the interstate since Saturday evening.

Authorities said they do not think Couch, of rural Knox County, targeted specific people in the shootings.

Police suspended the search for Couch at dark Sunday, but kept officers in the woods to try to make sure he didn’t sneak out and planned to resume looking for him Monday morning.

_________

Visit kentucky.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.