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Active shooter on Kentucky's I-75: multiple shot, person of interest identified

By Megan Ziegler
Published  September 7, 2024 6:55pm PDT
Crime and Public Safety
KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco

BREAKING: Shooting along I-75 in Kentucky

A shooting is being investigated in Kentucky near I-75 on Saturday night. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office first put out an alert around 6:45 p.m. local time to avoid I-75 in a particular area in London due to an active shooter situation. This is a developing story. LiveNOW from FOX will provide updates as they develop

The Brief

    • Active shooter incident reported along I-75 in London, Kentucky; multiple people shot.
    • Suspect identified as Joseph A. Couch, considered armed and dangerous.
    • Authorities have shut down I-75 in both directions; ATF and Kentucky State Police are responding.

Kentucky officials posted on social media Saturday night that an "active shooter situation" and a "critical incident" were taking place along I-75.

The Laurel County Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook around 6:45 p.m. local time that it was an "active shooter situation" and "numerous persons" were shot near the highway. It added that the interstate was closed 9 miles north of London.

In a video statement, London Mayor Randall Weddle said he was told seven people were hurt, but not all of those were wounded by gunfire. Some of the victims were injured in a vehicle accident, he said.

"There are no deceased at this time. No one was killed from this, thankfully, but we ask that you continue to pray," Weddle said.

The sheriff’s office also identified a person of interest in connection with the shooting, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous and people should not approach him. 

The man’s name was given as Joseph A. Couch, a 32-year-old white male, and anyone with information about his location was urged to call the county 911 center.

Authorities were still looking for him Sunday morning. 

London, around 80 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, has a population of 7,600. 

The Source

  • Information in this article was taken from the public social media accounts of Gov. Andy Beshear, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, Mayor Randall Weddle and ATF Louisville. The Associated Press also contributed.