The manhunt continues for the suspect behind a mass shooting on a Kentucky highway over the weekend. Joseph Couch, 32, is accused of opening fire on five drivers on Interstate 75. Prior to the incident, Couch allegedly sent a text message to an individual stating his intention to “kill a lot of people” before committing suicide, as per a police affidavit.
The recipient of the disturbing text messages, a woman, alerted the police about half an hour before the shooting took place on Saturday morning. Couch, a former National Guardsman, had allegedly written, “I’m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least,” followed by, “I’ll kill myself afterwards.”
The woman, who was interviewed by investigators on Sunday, had contacted the police after receiving the messages to warn them about Couch’s intentions. Fortunately, Couch’s plan did not fully materialize as all his victims survived the shooting and are currently listed in stable condition.
Couch also failed to take his own life as he had allegedly planned. After the shooting, he fled the scene, sparking a widespread manhunt in the remote Kentucky woods where he disappeared. Authorities believe that Couch likely chose this location for the shooting due to its remoteness and difficult navigation, which would aid in his evasion of the police.
Residents in the remote area have been urged by authorities to secure their homes, keep their porch lights on, and monitor their security cameras. A local school was also forced to cancel classes on Monday due to the ongoing manhunt. Police reported that at least 12 vehicles were hit in the shooting, with an estimated 20 to 30 rounds fired.
Couch had legally purchased an AR-style rifle, a sight mount, and approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition just hours before the attack, according to officials. Five people were injured in the highway shooting, but all are expected to recover.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Couch’s arrest. Once apprehended, Couch is expected to face charges of five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault, as stated in his arrest warrant.