Kentucky highway shooting suspect Joseph Couch planned to ‘kill a lot of people,’ affidavit says

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WDKY) — As the search for a man who’s considered armed and dangerous continues to unfold, court documents have revealed more about what led to Saturday’s shooting on Kentucky’s Interstate 75.

On Sunday, Joseph A. Couch, 32, was named a suspect in the shooting that injured five people and damaged 12 vehicles traveling down I-75 near exit 49. The interstate remained closed for over four hours in the aftermath, and several school districts closed their doors on Monday due to the manhunt.

The names of those injured in the shooting have since been released:

• Rebecca Puyear
• Norma Liberia
• Renee Walker
• Janet Booth
• Erick Tavin

All five victims were taken to area hospitals and were last heard to be in stable condition, per the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Laurel County affidavit reveals new information

According to an affidavit, Laurel County dispatch received a call earlier in the evening from someone saying she had received a text from Couch advising that he was going to “kill a lot of people.” An emergency cell site tracker was placed on his cellphone, which pinged at 6:53 p.m. within 2,500 meters of Exit 49 just over an hour after shots were fired.

Throughout the investigation, authorities learned that Couch had purchased a Cobalt AR-15 rifle with a Holosun sight mounted on it and 1,000 rounds of ammunition the same day of the shooting, per court documents.

The initial caller was interviewed overnight and she shared a screenshot of a text message from Couch that was sent at 5:03 p.m. that read, “I’m going to kill a lot of people. Well, try at least.” He sent another message that read, in part, “I’ll kill myself afterwards,” according to an affidavit.

According to court documents, Couch and the woman who alerted authorities share a child.

Around 7:55 p.m., Couch’s Toyota CHR was located in the Cromer Ridge area near I-75. Court documents revealed that after authorities searched the adjacent area, they found a green army-style duffle bag with “Couch” written on it in black marker, several magazines of .223 caliber/5.56 mm ammunition that matched evidence on the scene, a Cobalt AR-15, and several additional AR-15 magazines.

Who is Joseph Couch?

The 32-year-old at the center of the southeast Kentucky manhunt is a resident of Whitley County, per court records, and has had several run-ins with law enforcement. But authorities said in Sunday’s press conference that the offenses weren’t serious enough to have suggested that Couch was a risk for what happened on I-75 on Saturday.

Nexstar’s WDKY obtained court records that date back to 2015, which shed light on Couch’s history.

Couch was arrested in February for an incident that occurred a year earlier. According to a Knox County warrant, Couch allegedly threw a rock at another man’s dog and when asked why he did so, he started cursing, went inside his home, and came back armed with an AR-15.

He then allegedly told the man that he would kill him and the dog, per court documents. The warrant states that the man’s 9-year-old daughter was present for the entire exchange.

Couch was released on a $1,000 bond, per court documents, and the case was eventually dismissed in March.

But in 2015, Couch was arrested and charged with second-degree criminal mischief and third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor. According to a Whitley County arrest citation, he supplied a 17-year-old with alcohol and spray paint that the pair used to vandalize numerous county properties.

Initially, Couch faced several criminal mischief charges, including first-degree criminal mischief. According to KRS 512.020, criminal mischief in the first degree is a Class D felony unless the offense occurs during a declared emergency. However, this charge, alongside two third-degree criminal mischief charges, was dismissed, and Couch was sentenced to six months in jail, 200 hours of community service, and to pay $1,500 in fines.

If convicted, Couch would have been barred from buying or possessing a firearm.

Based on court records, the rifle purchased on Saturday marks the second in Couch’s possession. It’s unclear if Couch still possessed the AR-15 mentioned in the February court documents; however, only the one purchased on Saturday has been recovered.

Authorities emphasized that if you see Couch, do not approach him. Instead, call 911 or the following agencies:

• Kentucky State Police Post 11: (606) 878-6622
• Crime Stoppers: (606) 682-1013
• County Communication: (606) 878-7000
• Laurel County Sheriff’s Office: (606) 864 – 6600

According to Kentucky State Police, the public should consider Couch armed and dangerous. There’s a $15,000 collective reward out for information that leads to his arrest.