LONDON, Ky. — Dozens of law enforcement officers are combing through the rugged terrain of southeastern Kentucky for a third day Monday as they search for the man suspected of shooting of nine vehicles and wounding five people on a busy interstate.
Joseph A. Couch, 32, was named a suspect in Saturday’s shootings on Interstate 75 near London, Kentucky, after authorities said they found his SUV on a service road near the crime scene. They later found an AR-15 nearby they believe was used in the shooting, said Dep. Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesperson for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
The search focused on a remote area north of London, a community of about 8,000 people, about 75 miles south of Lexington.
"Where is he? That's the big question right now," Acciardo said. "We're doing the best we can. We're trying to get him."
Police believe the attacker planned the shooting for that location because it is very remote and the terrain is hilly, rocky and hard to navigate. Despite this, officers are confident they will find the suspect.
"That's such a remote area up there," Acciardo said. "We've got drones, we've got helicopters, we've got dogs. "Like I said, federal, state and local agencies have assisted us greatly on this. There's been an outpouring like you would not believe."
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When asked by reporters what makes this terrain so rough, Acciardo said the area off of I-75 where the shooting occurred is one of the most remote locations in The Commonwealth.
"That exit along I-75 is probably the most remote throughout Kentucky," he said. "It's wooded, it's heavily wooded. It's got hills, it's got rocks. There's one business there, there's very few residences. It's remote and it's difficult."
When asked if he believes Couch, who has a military background and served in the Army Reserves, could last in the woods by himself without food or water for multiple nights, Acciardo said it depends.
"It depends how committed he is and how much planning he put into this," Acciardo said.
Authorities say 40-50 federal, state and local law enforcement agents are on the ground searching for him. However, they are forced to end certain operations when it gets dark.
"Whenever it get's dark, we can't be in the woods because it's too dangerous for our guys," Acciardo said.
Despite the search postponing at night, Acciardo said they would know if the suspect left the area.
"We have the area contained," he said. "If one gunshot went off, our people would be right on it. He'd be crazy to shoot anytime right now. He obviously has to know we're looking for him."
During an early evening media briefing on Sunday, Acciardo said they believe Couch is still in the area.
"He's out there," he said. "He's behind a tree or under a rock cliff or something. We just gotta stumble upon him, safely."
Authorities believe there was only one shooter. Acciardo said the shooting appeared to involve some planning, but seemed to be a “random act” of violence in which no particular person was targeted. He didn't speculate on a possible motive.
Authorities were notified at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday about gunshots near the interstate's exit 49. An individual who was “off that exit” fired multiple rounds into the northbound and southbound lanes, striking nine vehicles and wounding five people, Acciardo said. The shooter was not in a vehicle at the time.
The wounded — one person from Kentucky and others from out of state — were hospitalized in stable condition early Sunday. Some had “very serious” injuries, including one person shot in the face, Acciardo said.
On Sunday, deputies said the incident appears to be a random act of violence and may have been planned. They believe Couch may have acted alone.
The bigger mystery still stands. Why did Couch randomly shoot people on the interstate?
Police didn’t have an answer and would not speculate on a possible motive.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.