Man upgraded to suspect in Kentucky freeway shooting

Authorities announced Sunday that a man initially identified as a person of interest in a Kentucky freeway shooting that injured seven people and left nine vehicles riddled with bullets is now a suspect.

Joseph A. Couch, described by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office as “armed and dangerous,” remained at large Sunday afternoon as a large-scale search continued in the area north of London, Kentucky, where the shooting occurred Saturday night.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root stated at a Sunday afternoon news conference that Couch’s status was upgraded from a person of interest to a suspect based on the “totality of everything” gathered so far.

This is the released a photo of the suspect 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch involved in the shooting on I-75 near London, Kentucky.

THERE WAS A COUPLE SEMI TRUCKS THAT PROTECTED A LAURAL COUNTY SCHOOL BUS COMING HOME FROM PLAYING A FOOTBALL GAME pic.twitter.com/HIhNpEKxtb

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An AR-15 rifle was discovered in the woods near the crime scene on Interstate 75, about eight miles north of London, according to authorities. Couch’s vehicle was also found abandoned in the vicinity Saturday night, officials confirmed.

Root explained that the decision to label Couch a suspect was based on evidence gathered during the investigation, including the recovery of the weapon and Couch’s vehicle. Additionally, “some information” that could not be disclosed further supported this decision.

The Sheriff’s Office had previously released a photo of Couch, who allegedly fled the freeway shooting and is believed to still be in the area.

Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo noted that the discovered weapon was found in a location from where a shooter could have targeted the interstate. Acciardo described the incident as a “random act” and said there was no indication of road rage.

Police received over 100 calls from people reporting possible sightings of Couch, who is thought to be hiding in the woods near the interstate, according to Acciardo. He described the shooting as “sniper-like” and stated investigators do not believe the shooter knew any of the victims.

Up to 60 law enforcement officers searched the area until 3 a.m. Sunday, stopping due to safety concerns given the rugged terrain and darkness. The search resumed at 9 a.m. local time.

The FBI, U.S. Marshal’s Service, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are assisting local authorities with the investigation.

The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time. Deputies arriving on the scene found nine vehicles shot in both north and southbound lanes of I-75. Five people had serious gunshot wounds, including one shot in the face, and two additional people were injured in a related car crash. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Root said deputies immediately shut down I-75 in both directions to prevent further injuries, as they did not initially know the source of the bullets.

Initial reports suggested road rage as a motive, but Root clarified that was not accurate. Couch, who has an address in Woodbine, Kentucky, is described as about 5-foot-10-inches tall and weighing 154 pounds.

Interstate 75 remained closed for over three hours following the shooting as law enforcement secured the scene and collected evidence. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear stated on X that he was monitoring the situation. Christina Dinoto, interviewed on Sunday, recounted hearing a loud sound while driving southbound on I-75 when the shooting occurred. She later found damage to her vehicle in Knoxville, likely caused by a bullet.

This incident in Kentucky follows another recent freeway shooting on September 2 in Washington state, where six people were injured in six shootings along Interstate 5. A suspect was arrested in Tacoma on September 3.

ABC News’ Alex Presha contributed to this report.