Suspected Kentucky interstate shooter has military background, still on lam 48 hours after attack

A man who allegedly opened fire near Interstate 75 in Kentucky over the weekend was still at large Monday afternoon, eluding federal, local and state authorities. 

The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, opened fire around 6 p.m. Saturday near exit 49, authorities said, adding that the shooter fired 20 to 30 rounds, striking 12 vehicles.

An affidavit filed by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and obtained by WYMT indicated Laurel County Dispatch received a call from a woman who claimed she received texts from Couch that he was “going to kill a lot of people.” 

Couch also wrote, “I’ll kill myself afterwards,” according to the affidavit. 

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The Lexington Herald-Leader identified the woman who received Couch’s messages as his ex-wife. 

Providing an update on the search Monday afternoon, State Trooper Scottie Pennington called the manhunt a “methodical effort similar to hide and seek.” 

“Our goal is to apply steady pressure and wearing Mr. Couch down,” Pennington said. “Hopefully he has no water and nothing to eat.”

Pennington said Crouch has military experience, having been in the U.S. Army Reserve, but was discharged. 

The U.S. Army said Couch was in the Army Reserve from March 2013 to January 2019 as a 12B combat engineer.

“He was a private at the end of service. He has no deployments,” the U.S. Army said. 

Pennington likened the woods around the area to a jungle, with cliff beds, sinkholes, caves and culverts. 

He urged the public to contact authorities if they encounter anything suspicious. 

“If you see something that looks strange in your area where you live, if you come home and your doors don’t seem like that’s how you left it, back out and call somebody,” Pennington said. “If you’re at home, don’t be alone. Always have your cell phone. Have phone access.” 

Authorities have combed the rugged, hilly area near London, a small city of around 8,000 people and around 75 miles south of Lexington. 

On Sunday, authorities recovered a vehicle and an AR-15 rifle during the search for the suspect. 

According to the affidavit, Couch is charged with five counts each of criminal attempt to commit murder and first-degree assault.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Couch’s arrest. 

More than a dozen school districts shut down Monday across a wide swath of southeastern Kentucky as the grueling search for Couch stretched into a third day.

Couch most recently lived in Woodbine, a small community about 20 miles south of the shooting scene. Authorities said he purchased the weapon and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition Saturday morning in London.

The search has involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the ATF, London City Police, and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, among others.