Officials with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office have announced they are turning over the search for Joseph A. Couch to the Kentucky State Police (KSP) after exhausting their resources. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assist.
Around 40 to 50 law enforcement officers have been actively searching a remote and wooded area near Exit 49 off I-75.
Joseph A. Couch, the 32-year-old suspect still at large, has a military background, now officially confirmed by law enforcement, having served in the National Guard for at least four years.
Officials also confirmed that Couch legally obtained a firearm in London on Saturday. Paperwork shows it was acquired properly, and the firearm is believed to hold up to 1,000 rounds of ammo, most of which has already been recovered.
Law enforcement conducted a search of Couch’s home as part of their investigation, which has now expanded across thousands of acres of rough terrain in the area.
An FBI official stated that law enforcement is doing “everything they can” and will not stop until Couch is found. Increased patrols are now active, with assistance from multiple agencies to continue the manhunt.
Officials say twelve vehicles were struck by gunfire on I-75 on Saturday evening, and they estimate that at least twenty to thirty rounds were fired.
The search will resume at 8 a.m. this morning, and several local school districts have canceled classes for Monday.
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