Suspect charged with 5 counts of attempted murder in I-75 shooting in KY

As dozens of officers continued Monday to search the rugged, wooded terrain for Joseph A. Couch, authorities have charged the Kentucky man with attempted murder for allegedly shooting into cars on Interstate 75 on Saturday and seriously injuring five people.

The warrants charge the 32-year-old Couch 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.

The shootings occurred about 75 miles south of Lexington on one of the nation’s busiest north-south interstates.

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.

Also Monday, an anonymous donor offered a $10,000 gift to the sheriff’s office for information leading to Couch’s capture. The Kentucky State Police is also offering a $5,000 reward in exchange for information leading to Couch’s arrest.

New details are expected to be shared at a 3 p.m. news conference .

Police said Couch is believed to have shot into a 12 cars on I-75 at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday from a vantage point on a ledge hillside overlooking the busy road in northern Laurel County. Four of the victims were transported to a hospital, while the fifth victim arrived at the hospital them self, according to an affidavit.

Police have not released information on the motive for the shootings, but have recovered his vehicle and the AR-15 assault-style rifle they say likely was used in the shooting.

Police have been searching for Couch in the 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.

Police said Sunday they found a silver Toyota registered to Couch near the interstate on Saturday night, establishing Couch as a person of interest in the shootings.

The car was parked atop a hill on a U.S. Forest Service Road near interstate Exit 49, the site of the shootings about nine miles north of London. Police found a rifle case in the car.

Early Sunday afternoon, in the same area, police found an AR-15 assault-style rifle they believe was used in the shootings. Police said Couch had bought the gun legally at a store in London Saturday morning, a few hours before the shooting, along with 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

An affidavit says Couch also bought a Holosun sight with the gun.

Police also found an Army-style duffel bag with several magazines of ammunition and spent shell casings, according to an affidavit. The bag was found near the rifle and had “Couch” handwritten on the bag in black marker.

This is a developing story.