Laurel County Schools to reopen as manhunt for I-75 shooter continues

Laurel County Schools are set to reopen. It has been more than ten days since the shooting on Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky that sent five people to the hospital.

Due to some evidence collected, authorities have shifted the search area for suspected gunman, 32 year old Joseph Couch.

During a press conference Monday morning, Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington expressed his frustration with the search and the man officials are trying to find.

“It's like “ are we throwing the right pitch at him? Are we bringing the right person to the plate? Are we bringing the right person into the game?” We've got the right people, we've got the right equipment, the Daniel Boone National Forest is a tough adversary, and Mr. Couch has done a great job, if he's alive or dead, he's done a great job of concealing himself.”

The reward for Couch's capture stands at $35 thousand dollars. Trooper Pennington said that could rise in the coming days. He also urged civilians to stay out of the search area for their own safety.

Pennington said it is important civilians stay out of the search area.

“Don't you be the next victim of Mr. Couch by going in there, having heat exhaustion, taking your local bloodhound you take rabbit hunting or coon hunting, don't take those into the woods. Don't come in here with 4 wheelers and M-16's. That's not for this, this is a police mission at this time.”

Pennington says ground teams have covered over 28-thousand acres. The reward for Couch's capture currently stands at $35-thousand dollars. Pennington said that amount could rise in the coming days.

Schools will be opening with enhanced security measures in place.

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