Authorities locate suspect Joseph Couch

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional comments from state lawmakers.

Kentucky State Police officials announced they believe the body found Wednesday near Exit 49 in Laurel County is suspect Joseph Couch, who they say opened fire at cars traveling on Interstate 75 near London, Kentucky just days ago.

Here’s what we know.

London shootingLondon, Kentucky shooting: Sheriff’s office identifies Joseph A. Couch as suspect

Did Kentucky authorities find the I-75 shooting suspect in Laurel County?

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said Wednesday night that detectives are still investigating, but “articles associated with the body,” including a weapon that was not specified, suggest the remains could belong to suspect Joseph Couch.

Burnett Jr. said two residents, Fred and Sheila McCoy, were searching in the forested area for Couch behind Exit 49 when they crossed paths with a group of Kentucky State Police troopers. The troopers had detected a pungent odor, and shortly after, the group stumbled upon the body.

The body was transported to Frankfort and is expected to be identified sometime Thursday.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Kentucky state Sen. Brandon Storm, R-London, thanked law enforcement and Fred and Sheila McCoy for their efforts, saying the search for Couch has likely concluded.

“Upon official confirmation from law enforcement, I hope we can finally put to rest the fears that have gripped our community for nearly two weeks,” Storm said. “I’m eager for a sense of normalcy to return to our lives and will be relieved to know our students, teachers, and school personnel can return to school free from the fear this cowardly man brought into their lives.

“My prayers remain with all who were harmed by his violent actions.”

Where was Joseph Couch located?

Authorities have been looking for Couch since Sept. 7 following a shooting that left five people wounded and 12 cars pierced with bullet holes. They located the body nearly 12 days later after scouring thousands of acres of rugged and densely wooded terrain in the Daniel Boone National Forest, where authorities believed Couch was hiding. Tuesday, officials announced that the manhunt efforts would be scaled back and resources would be reallocated toward community centers.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, the felony prosecutor for Laurel County, charged Couch in the incident with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault. Officials located Couch with the help of the McCoy’s, near Exit 49 off I-75 in Laurel County.

Details of Couch’s London shooting

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 5:30 p.m., Sept. 7, following reports of a gunshot victim on I-75 near Exit 49 and U.S. Route 25, roughly eight miles north of London. Officers noticed multiple vehicles parked on the side of the highway with shattered windows and visible bullet holes when they arrived. Twelve vehicles were found to have been shot on both sides of the roadway and five individuals were injured — all of them survived.

The shooting caused an hours-long closure of I-75 as the search for a suspect commenced. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Department named Joseph Couch a person of interest that same night, later upgrading him to a suspect the next day as evidence against him mounted.

Authorities located Couch’s car, a silver SUV, the night of the shooting. On Sept. 8, police found an AR-15 in the wooded area near Exit 49 of I-75, along with fully loaded magazines. Authorities said at the time that the weapon may have been used in the shooting.

An employee of a nearby gun shop, Center Target Firearms, confirmed to police that Couch purchased an AR-15 and 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the store the morning of the shooting, according to an affidavit released by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The firearm discovered by police matched the description of the one Couch purchased that day.

Couch also told the mother of his child via text that he was planning to “kill a lot of people” less than an hour before the incident, according to the affidavit. He added that he planned to kill himself afterward.

Who is Joseph Couch?

Couch, 32, is a former member of the Army Reserves. He resides south of Laurel County in Whitley County, Gilbert Acciardo, spokesperson for Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, said.

A reward of $35,000 was offered for information leading to Couch’s arrest.

On top of the attempted murder and first-degree assault charges, Couch could face charges related to other vehicle owners who have suspected damage from the shooting and his continued fleeing from police, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steele said. He was also previously accused of threatening to kill a man and his dog.

Joseph CouchOfficials believe body found near scene of I-75 London shooting could be suspected gunman

Where is London, Kentucky located?

The shooting incident broke out near London, a city in Laurel County, Kentucky.

The rural county sits in the southeast portion of the state and has a population of roughly 63,000, according to a 2020 Census estimate. Part of the Daniel Boone National Forest lies inside county limits.

It’s about 90 miles south of Lexington and 154 miles southeast of Louisville.

At the crossroads of I-75 and Highway 80, Laurel County is primed for economic development and growth, according to the London-Laurel Economic Development Authority. The county is home to 17 manufacturers, 12 distribution warehouses and five food production sites.