Kentucky ‘Sniper’ Manhunt Day 7: Updates on Victims as Search Continues

The manhunt for Joseph A. Couch, who’s accused of shooting into cars on Interstate 75 in Kentucky, entered its seventh day on Friday.
Couch allegedly opened fire about “30-feet down from the top of a cliff” near I-75 in Laurel County. Five people were injured in the shooting on Saturday and two others were wounded in a subsequent car crash.
Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo described the incident as a “sniper-like” attack.
Four of the shooting victims have been released from the hospital and the fifth remains hospitalized, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed at a press conference on Thursday.
“Know that your Commonwealth is here for you. We care about you, we’ll stand with you, both in the days that have happened since and the days that are moving forward — and we will heal from this incident,” Beshear said.
He also condemned the shooting.
“There is no notoriety, there is no celebrity in committing an act like this. There’s just evil,” Beshear said. “There’s no excuse when you put a plan in place to take the lives of our fellow human beings and try to take as many of them as possible, you can and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Several school districts and independent schools chose to move all classes to remote instruction as the manhunt continued on Friday. Some businesses were closed throughout the week as well.
Kosta Ververis of Dino’s Italian Restaurant in London, said his business was among those ordered to close following the shooting. The restaurant has since reopened, but he said business has been impacted by the ongoing search.
“It’s been decreased because schools are not open, no public activities, no outdoor activities, no football,” Ververis said. “And parents staying home with their kids, and they can’t go to work because they can’t find a babysitter.”
He said he is keeping the victims in mind and he is sorry for what happened to them.
“We wish for a quick recovery,” he said.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington said the search has extended deeper into Daniel Boone National Forest in a Facebook post on Friday.
Multiple agencies have been assisting in the manhunt. K9s and drones have been deployed as well.
The sheriff’s office located a vehicle registered to Couch near I-75 on Saturday. An AR weapon was found near where the car was found the next day.
Randall Weddle spoke to Newsweek about the ongoing search for the suspect. He had a simple message for Couch.
“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Weddle said. “They’re eventually going to catch you.”
There is a reward of $35,000 being offered for any information leading to the arrest of Couch. Members of the public are being asked to not approach the suspect, who officials say is “considered armed and dangerous.”
Survival expert Creek Stewart spoke to Newsweek about the conditions Couch is facing in the wilderness.
“If I were to pick a spot and a time of year to evade authorities, it would be right now in the eastern woodlands of Kentucky,” Stewart said.
Stewart explained several factors that make conditions in this location optimal during this time of year.
“He doesn’t really need a shelter because it’s nice and warm, even at night,” Stewart said. “There’s plenty of water in the eastern woodlands. There’s plenty of food in the eastern woodlands this time of year. There’s a lot of nuts, nutritious nuts and seeds and acorns, even several fruits ripening.”
Anyone with information should contact Kentucky State Police Post 11 London at 606-878-6622, Crime Stoppers at 606-682-1013, County Communication at 606-878-7000 or Laurel County Sheriff’s Office at 606-864-6600.
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