Authorities in Kentucky announced that remains believed to belong to the suspect in a recent highway shooting had been found. The body, believed to be 32-year-old Joseph Couch, was discovered off exit 49 of Interstate 75 in Laurel County, near where the shooting occurred. The body was found in deep brush by two troopers and two civilians and will be sent for positive identification.
Couch had been the subject of a manhunt since five people were shot on Interstate 75 on September 7. The shooting occurred near London, Kentucky, with all five victims expected to survive. State police warned that Couch should be considered armed and dangerous as they searched for him in the dense forest. Residents were urged to check security cameras, stay indoors, and schools in the area were closed immediately after the shooting.
Authorities recovered an AR-15 rifle and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition near the shooting area, which the suspect had legally purchased on the day of the shooting. An arrest warrant revealed that the suspect had sent a text message prior to the shooting expressing his intention to “kill a lot of people.” The woman who received the text called 911, but the shooting had already occurred. The suspect, identified as the ex-husband of the woman, had served in the Army Reserve for nearly six years as a combat engineer.
The suspect’s identity was confirmed through investigative efforts, and the body discovered near exit 49 of Interstate 75 is believed to be Joseph Couch. Authorities are working to positively identify the body through the coroner in Frankfort, Kentucky. The suspect’s ex-wife had alerted authorities to his plans to carry out a mass shooting, leading to a rapid response from law enforcement. The suspect had a military background but had not been deployed during his time in the Army Reserve.
This breaking news story marks the culmination of a manhunt for the suspect in the Kentucky highway shooting, which had sparked fear in the region. Authorities had issued warnings and closures in response to the shooting, urging residents to stay vigilant and indoors while law enforcement searched for the armed suspect. The recovery of the body is a significant development in the case, providing closure to the investigation of the shooting incident. The positive identification of Joseph Couch will bring clarity to the events surrounding the shooting and allow for a better understanding of the motive and circumstances leading up to the tragic incident.
