Search for Kentucky's I-75 shooter enters 10th day

The southeastern Kentucky manhunt for suspected gunman Joseph Couch has entered its tenth day as authorities extended the search area Friday.

Couch allegedly opened fire at drivers along a remote stretch of Interstate 75 in Laurel County a week ago Saturday. Twelve vehicles were hit and five people wounded in the attack near London, a city of about 8,000 people roughly 75 miles south of Lexington.

A reward leading to Couch’s arrest has increased to $35,000. Local schools started remote learning on Thursday after being closed earlier last week. Several high school football games were canceled on Friday.

Kentucky State Police are leading the manhunt for Couch. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is leading the criminal investigation into the shooting.

KSP Master Trooper Scottie Pennington said they have extended the search deeper into Daniel Boone National Forest. He still maintains that there was no indication that Couch had exited the woods. 

Kentucky State Police released a statement on “X” saying officials have searched 28,000 acres so far, most of it in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The forest spans 21 counties in eastern Kentucky.  Law enforcement hopes the manhunt will wear down the suspect. 

The difficult terrain is a major challenge for law enforcement — and a potential advantage for Couch. One retired FBI expert noted that he has seen similar searches go on for weeks and involve up to 1,000 personnel in the hunt.

The day after the shooting, law enforcement officers searched an area near where Couch’s vehicle was found, with a view of I-75. There, they found an Army-style duffel bag, ammunition and spent shell casings.

A short distance away, they found a Colt AR-15 rifle with a sight mounted to the weapon and several additional magazines. The duffel bag had “Couch” hand-written in black marker. Couch fired 20 to 30 rounds in the attack, investigators said.