Joseph Couch named person of interest in Kentucky shooting after multiple victims shot on I-75 in London

A MANHUNT is underway for a gunman after multiple people were shot on Interstate 75 in Kentucky.

Cops have named Joseph Couch as a person of interest and warned that he should be considered armed and dangerous after the shooting on a highway in the southeastern portion of the state.

AP:Associated Press

Laurel County Sheriff's Office

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Couch is approximately 5’10 and weighs about 154 lbs.

Police said there have been no confirmed deaths, per CBS affiliate WYMT .

Kentucky Mayor Randall Weddle shared a video with updates saying that there were seven people injured from either gunshot wounds or car accidents.

Weddle also said on Kentucky Sports Radio they believe the shooting wasn’t random, but it happened after two cars had an altercation while driving, per a tweet from the host of the radio show.

The U.S. Sun has contacted the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, the Kentucky State Police, and Mayor Weddle for an update.

STAY INSIDE

The mayor of London first warned of an active shooter in Laurel County at 6:20 pm when he posted on Facebook .

Chief of Staff to Congressman Hal Rogers Karen Kelly said the shooter ran into the woods.

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has also responded and is helping find the suspect.

“We encourage all citizens to exercise caution should they be in the area, and we are sending our best wishes to those responders in the area,” they wrote .

The mayor of London shared which parts of the interstate were closed.

“Please avoid I-75 around exit 49 until further notice!” London Mayor Randall Weddle wrote.

“Use alternative route do not be anywhere in that area!

“Avoid US Highway 25 as well North and South Between London and Livingston.”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also warned people to stay inside as the shooter is on the loose in a statement on X .

The suspect has not been caught at this time we are urging people to stay inside!!

Scottie Pennington Kentucky State Police Trooper

“Kentucky, we are aware of a shooting on I-75 in Laurel County. Law enforcement has shut the interstate down in both directions at exit 49,” he wrote .

“Please avoid the area. We will provide more details once they are available.”

He later added, “I am receiving initial reports from the Kentucky State Police and our Office of Homeland Security — together we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in any way possible. Please pray for everyone involved.”

Weddle also said in his video that there was “no immediate danger,” but to “be vigilant” while the suspect is on the loose.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also at the scene.

London, Kentucky is in Laurel County and the town is 159 miles southeast of Louisville and 84 miles south of Lexington.

X/richbrimer

‘STUCK IN THIS MESS’

People are stuck on the interstate while traffic backs up due to the shooting.

Frustrated drivers flooded social media begging for updates and warning others to stay off the roads.

“We are stuck in this mess also,” a user wrote.

“We are stuck in traffic right before the 49. Both north and southbound shut down,” another shared.

“Yeah, send in 50 drones and 50 dogs and find the dude! I’m sitting in stopped traffic on NB I-75 about a block from exit 49!” someone wrote.

They also included a picture of lanes of cars in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the highway.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

In a post on Facebook, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office announced that the north and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 have been reopened to traffic.

According to the post, however, authorities have yet to give up on their search for Couch.

The search has lasted about four hours as of 10 pm.

Facebook/Laurel County Sheriff's Office

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