Janice R. Andrews
On Saturday, there was a shooting along Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky, hurting several people. Laurel County Sheriff’s Office stated that there was a “active shooter situation” and that several people had been shot near the highway. The event took place in a country area not far from the small city of London, Kentucky.
In a video message, London Mayor Randall Weddle said that seven people were hurt, though not all of the injuries were caused by guns. Some of the victims were hurt in car accidents, which may have been caused by the chaos during the killing.
“At this time, there are no dead.” Thank goodness no one was killed, but Mayor Weddle asked everyone to keep praying.
Hospitals taking care of more than one victim
Local hospitals moved quickly to help those who were hurt. A close hospital, Saint Joseph London, reported that it was taking care of several people with minor injuries. According to LEX 18, hospital staff said that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
A spokesperson for the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Jay Blanton, also stated that two victims were taken to their hospital. At the time, though, no other information about their situations was given.
Suspect Found; Thought to be Armed and Dangerous
After looking into the killing, the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said they have found a “Person of Interest.” Joseph A. Couch, a 32-year-old white man, is the suspect. He is armed and dangerous. People have been told not to approach him and to call the county’s 911 office with any information about where he is.
State lawmakers from Laurel County said in a statement that people should stay inside after the killing while police continued to look for the suspect. They spoke out against the act, calling it “senseless violence” that doesn’t represent the ideals of the area or the state of Kentucky.
Closures of roads and police presence
A “heavy presence” of police and firefighters were at the scene of the accident, which led to a large police and emergency reaction. Because of the continuing probe, the Mount Vernon Fire Department told drivers to stay off of I-75 and US 25. Some parts of Interstate 75 were closed for a while, but they were reopened as the situation changed.
What Governor Beshear Says
Governor Andy Beshear used social media site X to talk about how worried he was about what was going on. He told us, “I am receiving initial reports from the Kentucky State Police and our Office of Homeland Security — together we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in any way possible.” The Governor also asked people to pray for the victims and said he would let people know as soon as he knew more.
London is a city with about 8,000 people that is about 75 miles south of Lexington.
