Authorities presumably discovered the presumed corpse of the suspected gunman involved in the Kentucky interstate shooting, according to law enforcement.
A corpse, thought to be Joseph Couch's, was discovered on Wednesday afternoon in secluded rural terrain off Interstate 75, northwest of London, by a pair of civilians and two police officers who were searching for him, as reported by the Kentucky State Police.
Officials are convinced that the body is Couch's due to items linked to the remains, police added. The body will be sent to the state's capital for definitive identification, according to police.
Couch, perched at the edge of a cliff, fired an AR-15 into vehicles on Interstate 75 in Laurel County near London around 7 p.m. on September 7, shortly after messaging a woman to say he intended to "kill a bunch of people," authorities revealed.
Five individuals were hospitalized due to gunshot wounds. The gunfire led to the closure of the highway for several hours and instigated a manhunt that resulted in temporary school closures and appeals from investigators for nearby residents to steer clear of the wilderness.
The body was uncovered in the region of I-75's Exit 49 in Laurel County, approximately 10 miles northwest of London, state police disclosed on Wednesday. Earlier, authorities had announced the discovery of a vehicle belonging to Couch on a forest service road off Exit 49, with an empty ammunition box inside. During the search, investigators also found – in a wooded area adjacent to the highway – an AR-15 they suspect was used in the attacks, police stated.
This story is still unfolding and will be updated.
The authorities are currently involving the local community in the search for any possible evidence linked to Couch, as we are all concerned about bringing this matter to a close and ensuring the safety of us all. After the identification process, the body will be returned to his family, providing them with some closure and allowing us to move forward.
