Multiple people were shot near Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky on Saturday, according to officials. Police described the incident as an "active shooter situation" with "multiple victims" near the highway. The incident led authorities to close I-75 at Exit 49 and US 25, located nine miles north of London.
At least seven people were injured by gunfire while driving along a rural section of the interstate highway. Local news station WYMT reported that there were "multiple severe injuries" but no confirmed fatalities at this time.
The events leading up to the shooting were not immediately clear.
According to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, five victims are in stable condition.
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office issued an alert at 5:36 pm on Facebook following the incident. They informed the public of the highway's closure and the ongoing search for the suspect. The Kentucky State Police reiterated the warning, advising residents to stay indoors as the suspect had not been apprehended by 6:04 pm.
The sheriff's office later released a photo of Joseph Couch, a person of interest, and warned that he should be considered "armed and dangerous."
"The below individual, Joseph A. Couch, is a Person of Interest in the shooting that occurred at the Exit 49/KY-909 area. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts or location on this individual please contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center by calling 911 or 606-878-7000," the sheriff's office posted on Facebook.
Governor Andy Beshear also addressed the unfolding situation on Facebook. He wrote, "Kentucky, we are aware of a shooting on I-75 in Laurel County. Law enforcement has shut the interstate down in both directions at exit 49. Please avoid the area. We will provide more details once they are available."