A manhunt is underway for a suspect after five people were injured in a shooting near a highway in a rural area of Laurel County, Kentucky, south of Lexington, on Saturday, based on the sheriff's office.
All five victims are in stable condition and authorities are looking for one in every of the shooters, Gilbert Acciardo, deputy public affairs for the Laurel County Sheriff's Office, told CNN.
The shooting occurred near Interstate 75, about 14.5 kilometers north of the town of London. “Numerous people were shot,” the Laurel County Sheriff's Office said.
The London Police Department has identified 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch as a suspect who is taken into account “armed and dangerous.” He is described as a white male, roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing roughly 150 kilos, police said.
The agency is urging people to contact emergency services with “any information regarding the whereabouts or location of this person.”
Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington said on social media that the suspect “has not been caught yet. We are urging people to stay indoors.” Law enforcement will “provide as much information as is available.” he added.
According to the Mount Vernon Fire Department, the interstate reopened Saturday evening after being closed for about three hours from Exit 41 to Exit 59 in each the northbound and southbound directions because of the shooting.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Louisville said in an announcement Its officers responded and assisted Kentucky State Police and native authorities with a “critical incident” near Interstate 75.
London Mayor Randall Weddle said authorities were looking for the suspect or suspects in “rugged terrain and many tree lines,” which could hamper their efforts, his video was posted on Facebook around 8 p.m. local time.
Weddle urged everyone inside city limits to be vigilant and regulate their surroundings. “If you're at home, lock your doors. I'm not asking anyone to panic. There's no immediate danger here in the city, but we're asking everyone to stay safe while these guys or this person is on the loose,” he said.
The outbreak of gun violence got here just days after a mass shooting that left 4 people dead and nine others hospitalized. a highschool in Winder, Georgia — and lower than every week after half a dozen people died on a Seattle-area highway injured by a gunman.
In a contribution to X, Governor Andy Beshear wrote: “Kentucky, we are aware of a shooting on I-75 in Laurel County. Police have closed the interstate at exit 49 in both directions. Please avoid the area. We will provide more details as they become available.”
The governor said he had heard “initial reports” from state police and the state Department of Homeland Security.
“Together we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in every way possible. Please pray for everyone involved,” he said in one other statement to X.
London, Kentucky, is positioned about 80 miles south of Lexington.
Matt Downing told CNN he was stuck on the interstate for over an hour after police stopped traffic because of the shooting. Downing was traveling north on I-75 when a police automobile began pulling out in all lanes to stop traffic, he said.
A video obtained by CNN shows a police automobile driving through traffic at high speed.
Downing estimates that no less than 30 police cars drove past him while he was stopped on the highway. Downing says that starting at 7:30 p.m., authorities began slowly redirecting traffic in the wrong way.
This is a developing story and shall be updated.
CNN's Sara Smart contributed to this report.
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