Kentucky Sniper Update: Community on Edge as Joseph Couch Search on Day 10

The manhunt for the gunman accused of shooting at cars on Interstate 75 in Kentucky entered its tenth day on Monday.
Joseph A. Couch, 32, allegedly opened fire at vehicles about “30-feet down from the top of a cliff” near I-75 in Laurel County on September 7.
Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo called the attack “sniper-like.”
Five people were injured in the shooting. Four of them have been released from the hospital, and the fifth is expected to survive. Two others were injured in a subsequent vehicle accident.
State, local and federal officials have now searched over 28,000 acres, mostly within the Daniel Boone National Forest, but Couch has not been located yet. Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington announced that the search had been extended deeper into the forest on Friday.
The ongoing manhunt has impacted local businesses and institutions, with some choosing to close for safety reasons. Multiple school districts and independent schools were closed or operating on a remote instruction model as well.
Laurel County Public Schools made the decision to make all classes virtual on Monday. Schools in the district have not been holding in-person classes since the manhunt began.
The Laurel County Public Library was closed on Sunday and Monday last week. Director Leah Rudder spoke to Newsweek about the decision to close those days and reopen later in the week.
“I made the decision to close based on the number of staff that would be in the building and whether or not I was able to have my security team here,” Rudder said.
Rudder also said she couldn’t believe that this happened in her community.
“It scared me, it made me nervous,” Rudder said. “I’ve lived in Laurel County my entire life. I’m very familiar with the area [where] that happened in.”
The library reopened Tuesday with shortened hours.
“With the students out of school, we just felt like we needed to be here, but remain as safe as possible,” Rudder said.
Rudder said the library also postponed its “Bookmobile” services last week, which is a book delivery program for individuals in the county who are unable to go to the library.
Rudder explained that library staff felt as though “people may be more on edge to answer their door” as the suspect remains at large.
“Bookmobile” routes have resumed, but staff are calling people before they arrive at their home.
Rudder also said the library made the decision to cancel some of its programming last week and this week.
Kosta Ververis of Dino’s Italian Restaurant in London, Kentucky, told Newsweek his business was ordered to close on September 7 following the shooting. It has since reopened, but he has seen a decrease in customers.
“It’s been decreased because schools are not open, no public activities, no outdoor activities, no football,” Ververis said. “And parents staying home with their kids, and they can’t go to work because they can’t find a babysitter.”
Randall Weddle, mayor of London, had a simple message for Couch in an interview with Newsweek.
“You can run, but you can’t hide,” Weddle said. “They’re eventually going to catch you.”
Weddle said he initially felt “shock” when he heard about the incident, then he started thinking about what he could do to help.
“Law enforcement has their role and their jobs, but this is now a community that has been shocked by this evil act,” Weddle said.
He said he has been focusing on addressing “a lot of misinformation” on social media.
“I became the middle person, just trying to put out the right information and begin to try to calm the fears as much as possible,” Weddle said.
He wanted the victims to know that they have the community’s support.
“We hate that this has happened, but we will continue as a community to keep them and their families in our thoughts and prayers,” Weddle said.
Couch was a Knox County resident. Knox County Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell spoke to Newsweek about Couch’s history.
“He’s had some issues with his neighbors,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said he could not elaborate on the judicial aspects of the alleged issues.
Couch was arrested in Knox County in February for allegedly threatening a neighbor with an AR weapon. The case was ultimately dismissed after the victim failed to appear in court.
Mitchell said he is continuing to think of the injured victims.
“I feel for them, I’ve been praying for them and will continue to pray for them,” Mitchell said. “My wife and I prayed for them this morning before we left the house. It’s very traumatic. And I wish them the best as far as their recovery and look forward to them recovering. This is so horrendous that anything like this has went on and our whole community feels the devastation from this, and it’s just very regrettable.”
Survival expert Creek Stewart told Newsweek Couch could survive “a very long time” in the Kentucky woodlands.
“If I were to pick a spot and a time of year to evade authorities, it would be right now in the eastern woodlands of Kentucky,” Stewart said.
He said there are several conditions in the area that make the location optimal this time of year.
“He doesn’t really need a shelter because it’s nice and warm, even at night,” Stewart said. “There’s plenty of water in the eastern woodlands. There’s plenty of food in the eastern woodlands this time of year. There’s a lot of nuts, nutritious nuts and seeds and acorns, even several fruits ripening.”
There is a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Couch. Members of the public are being advised not to approach the suspect, who officials say is “considered armed and dangerous.”
Laurel County has a population of around 62,613. The shooting took place near London, the largest city in the county with a population of around 8,053.
Anyone with information should contact Kentucky State Police Post 11 London at 606-878-6622, Crime Stoppers at 606-682-1013, County Communication at 606-878-7000 or Laurel County Sheriff’s Office at 606-864-6600.
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