KY- I-75 Active Shooter Targeting Vehicles

[PommyMommy]

SEP 8, 2024

Suspect in I-75 shooting eludes capture for a second night in rural Kentucky as officials warn the community to stay vigilant

(CNN) — As the search continues a second night for the man suspected of injuring five people when he opened fire on Interstate 75, many area schools have decided to

www.wfft.com

[...]

“It sounded like a tire had blown, so I asked my husband, and he said it was gunshots,” Puryear told CNN on Sunday.

“The next thing I know, my ears are ringing. I look over and my (passenger-side) window is busted and there’s a bullet hole.”

[...]

“I started fainting and going in and out, and he told me to get in his cruiser so he could take me to the hospital.”

Puryear said a bullet entered through the passenger-side window and struck her right arm, penetrating her chest before exiting through her left arm. She was released from a hospital later Saturday night but will need surgery.

[...]

 

[CamSoup]

Update: Searches will resume 8am Monday
(From local source, will keep updated as I am near the area)

 

[CamSoup]

Any clue how he has been identified?

jmo

like previously said, the family members have been reported to be cooperating, but he also has a terrorist threat that was dismissed

 

[Snoopster]

Any clue how he has been identified?

jmo

I know this reply is well after the fact and you likely know how the suspect was identified....but for other recent readers here, it was because they found his abandoned vehicle on a remote local road with an empty AR-15 case in it.

 

[PommyMommy]

Update: Searches will resume 8am Monday
(From local source, will keep updated as I am near the area)

Thank you for the update, and Welcome to Websleuths!

 

[Inthedetails]

I know this reply is well after the fact and you likely know how the suspect was identified....but for other recent readers here, it was because they found his abandoned vehicle on a remote local road with an empty AR-15 case in it.

Yeah, that question was from over 24 hours ago when the story was still breaking. We've learned more since then. But thanks for bringing us all up to speed!

jmo

 

[Snoopster]

Yeah, that question was from over 24 hours ago when the story was still breaking. We've learned more since then. But thanks for bringing us all up to speed!

jmo

(yeah, I knew that you knew and were on top of this case.)

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Granted I’ve not watched the latest press conference; has it been indicated definitively why they would not search overnight for the suspect? If he has un-alived himself, chance to use infrared and other night search capabilities successfully could diminish? Alternatively he could do further harm as well. MOO

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 8, 2024

Kentucky shooting updates: Suspect was in National Guard, purchased weapon, ammo Saturday

Laurel County, Kentucky, authorities confirmed that five people suffered gunshot wounds on Interstate 75 Saturday evening.

www.courier-journal.com

• Couch purchased a gun and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition Saturday morning at a place in Loudon.
• It was a legal purchase, per Sheriff Root.
• He served in the National Guard for four years in an engineer battalion.
• Captain Dalrymple said they searched his house Sunday evening.
• Michael Stansbury, special agent in charge of the Louisville FBI office said, "We have solid evidence. His vehicle was at the scene. A firearm that he purchased yesterday was at the scene...We have interviewed people; we feel pretty confident this is the individual."
• KSP have taken over the manhunt.
• Laurel Co Sheriff's Office will handle the criminal investigation.
• Search efforts after nightfall pose a safety risk to first responders, especially due to the rough terrain.
• Mayor Randall Weddle said the five victims remain hospitalized, some with serious injuries.
• Laurel County Public Schools will be closed Monday.

 

[MassGuy]

Granted I’ve not watched the latest press conference; has it been indicated definitively why they would not search overnight for the suspect? If he has un-alived himself, chance to use infrared and other night search capabilities successfully could diminish? Alternatively he could do further harm as well. MOO

They're not doing ground searches because of the danger to law enforcement, but they haven't mentioned not doing drone searches. I imagine they are, for the reason you stated. I wish a reporter had asked that question so we had a definitive answer.

 

[PommyMommy]

Updated: 11:30 PM EDT Sep 8, 2024

Manhunt: Suspect still at large after Laurel County I-75 shooting

Law enforcement agencies say they have found an AR-15 and several magazines in the ongoing manhunt for the person of interest in the Laurel County I-75 shooting. They have also found his vehicle.

www.wlky.com

[...]

Agencies assisting the Laurel County Sheriff's Office:

ATF Louisville, Kentucky State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshal Service, Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office, East Bernstadt Fire and Rescue, London Fire Department, Bluegrass Army Depot and several other area fire departments.

Also, city police from Lexington, London, Corbin, Williamsburg, Richmond and Mount Vernon are involved.

[...]

The sheriff's office said Sunday that the London Laurel Rescue squad is sending their drone that has FLIR (forward-looking infrared) to assist in the search.

FLIR is a type of infrared imaging system that uses thermal imaging to detect heat emitted by objects.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 8, 2024

Police: AR-15 used in attack on I-75 purchased the morning of shooting, suspect still at large

Joseph Couch, the suspected shooter of an attack along I-75 in Laurel county, remains at large. Police believe he is still hiding in a heavily wooded area off Exit 49, just a few miles from where he allegedly carried out the shooting.

www.wave3.com

Law enforcement believe Couch is hidden somewhere in the woods off that service road, but the rugged terrain has made their search for him slow-moving and uniquely challenging.

“It’s very unforgiving terrain and not somewhere you want to put people in the dark searching for a needle in a haystack,” said Capt. Richard Darlrymple of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Ground searches have been suspended until daylight. Other resources in the contained area are still being utilized through the night.

Law enforcement tracked the site of the shooting back to a ledge 30 feet below a cliff. That marked the third location where evidence was recovered, along with the dumped vehicle and weapon.

 

[LadyL]

SEP 8, 2024

Police: AR-15 used in attack on I-75 purchased the morning of shooting, suspect still at large

Joseph Couch, the suspected shooter of an attack along I-75 in Laurel county, remains at large. Police believe he is still hiding in a heavily wooded area off Exit 49, just a few miles from where he allegedly carried out the shooting.

www.wave3.com

Law enforcement believe Couch is hidden somewhere in the woods off that service road, but the rugged terrain has made their search for him slow-moving and uniquely challenging.

“It’s very unforgiving terrain and not somewhere you want to put people in the dark searching for a needle in a haystack,” said Capt. Richard Darlrymple of the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.

Ground searches have been suspended until daylight. Other resources in the contained area are still being utilized through the night.

Law enforcement tracked the site of the shooting back to a ledge 30 feet below a cliff. That marked the third location where evidence was recovered, along with the dumped vehicle and weapon.

I'd love to see some pictures of the areas where they've found evidence. Specifically the ledge where he shot from.