{"id":2342357,"date":"2024-09-17T14:39:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T18:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gunman-remains-at-large-after-opening-fire-on-interstate\/"},"modified":"2024-09-17T14:41:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T18:41:51","slug":"gunman-remains-at-large-after-opening-fire-on-interstate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gunman-remains-at-large-after-opening-fire-on-interstate\/","title":{"rendered":"Gunman Remains at Large After Opening Fire on Interstate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgunman-remains-at-large-after-opening-fire-on-interstate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342357&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Schools in Laurel County, Kentucky, reopened with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-johnson-impeachment-appears-to-be-distraction-from-what-democrat-leadership-knew-about-jan-6\/\" title=\"Sen. Johnson: Impeachment Appears to Be Distraction From What Democrat Leadership Knew About Jan. 6\">increased security measures<\/a> following a shooting incident on September 7, where a suspect, Joseph Couch, \u200cfired on vehicles along \u200bInterstate 75, injuring five. \u2064Authorities are\u2063 still searching for Couch, focusing on a wooded \u200carea near London, Kentucky. \u2062To ensure \u200csafety, school \u2063officials coordinated with law enforcement\u2064 to enhance security at campuses, bus routes, and extracurricular\u2063 activities. Police\u200d heightened patrols and advised parents to keep children indoors \u200buntil buses arrived. The community&#8217;s support during this challenging time has been appreciated, and students had previously transitioned to\u2062 virtual learning in the aftermath \u2063of the\u200d attack. The \u200dsearch for Couch continues,\u200d with warnings\u2064 issued \u200cto residents to stay vigilant. Couch has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-trump-legal-group-demands-biden-administration-release-information-about-ryan-routh-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Pro-Trump legal group demands Biden administration release information about Ryan Routh - Washington Examiner\">previously made threats<\/a> in text messages prior \u2064to the incident,\u2064 and investigators \u200ddiscovered a rifle and ammunition linked to him near the site of the shooting.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Schools reopened with extra security on Tuesday in the rural Kentucky county where a gunman who remains at large opened fire on an interstate highway, hitting a dozen vehicles and wounding five people.<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mexican-authorities-arrest-suspect-in-kidnapping-murder-of-u-s-nationals\/\" title=\"Mexican Authorities Arrest Suspect In Kidnapping, Murder Of U.S. Nationals\">authorities continue searching<\/a> for the shooter, public schools in Laurel County were in session for the first time since the assailant sprayed bullets onto Interstate 75 on September 7. The search for the suspected gunman, 32-year-old Joseph Couch, has focused on a rugged, wooded area near London, a city of about 8,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-school-football-games-canceled-as-police-hunt-for-missing-gunman-nears-second-week\/\" title=\"High School Football Games Canceled as Police Hunt for Missing Gunman Nears Second Week\">000 people roughly 75 miles south<\/a> of Lexington.<\/p>\n<p>School administrators in Laurel County worked with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/law-enforcement-identifies-suspect-trump-campaign-office-break\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">law enforcement<\/a> agencies on the district&rsquo;s reopening plan, which provides enhanced security for buses, school campuses and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyc-drops-vaccine-mandate-for-private-sector-workers-and-high-school-student-athletes\/\" title=\"NYC drops vaccine mandate for private sector workers and high school student-athletes\">extra-curricular activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Police increased patrols along most rural bus routes in the southeastern Kentucky school district, administrators said in a message on the district&rsquo;s website. Parents were urged to keep their children inside, if possible, until the bus arrived. Law enforcement bolstered its presence to monitor each school campus, and patrols were increased for after-school events.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We appreciate the support, trust and cooperation of our families and the community as we safely return to school,&rdquo; the district said in its message.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Students had shifted to virtual learning for several days after the shooting.<\/p>\n<p>Police have urged area residents to be vigilant and look out for their neighbors as searchers try to track down the suspect. The area where Couch is presumed to be hiding has cliff beds, sinkholes, caves and dense brush.<\/p>\n<p>The day after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/jd-vance-camp-unleashes-media-brazenly-lying-comments-georgia-school-shooting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the shooting<\/a>, law enforcement officers searched an area near where Couch&rsquo;s vehicle was found, with a view of I-75. There, they found an Army-style duffel bag, ammunition and spent shell casings, authorities said in an arrest warrant affidavit.<\/p>\n<p>A short distance away, they found an AR-15 rifle with a sight mounted to the weapon and several additional magazines. The duffel bag had &ldquo;Couch&rdquo; handwritten in black marker. Couch fired 20 to 30 rounds in the attack, investigators said.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly before the shooting, Couch wrote in a text message: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least.&rdquo; In a separate text message, Couch wrote, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll kill myself afterwards.&rdquo; The messages were revealed in the affidavit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Schools in a rural Kentucky county reopened on Tuesday with heightened security measures following a shooting incident where an unidentified gunman fired at vehicles on an interstate highway, injuring five individuals. This marked the first day back for public schools in Laurel County since the attack occurred on September 7, when the shooter targeted Interstate 75. The search for the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Joseph Couch, has been concentrated in a rugged wooded area near London, a small city located about 75 miles south of Lexington.<\/p>\n<p>School officials collaborated with law enforcement to develop a reopening plan that includes increased security for school buses, campuses, and extracurricular activities. Police have stepped up patrols along many rural bus routes within the southeastern Kentucky district and advised parents to keep their children indoors until their bus arrives. Law enforcement has also enhanced its presence at each school and during after-school events.<\/p>\n<p>The district expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation from families and the community as students returned to school safely. Following the shooting incident, students had transitioned to virtual learning for several days. Authorities have urged local residents to remain vigilant and watch out for one another while efforts continue to locate Couch.<\/p>\n<p>After discovering Couch&#8217;s abandoned vehicle near where he is believed to be hiding\u2014an area characterized by cliffs, sinkholes, caves, and thick brush\u2014law enforcement found an Army-style duffel bag containing ammunition and spent shell casings. Nearby was an AR-15 rifle equipped with a sight along with additional magazines; notably, &#8220;Couch&#8221; was written on the duffel bag in black marker. Investigators reported that Couch fired between 20 to 30 rounds during his attack.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to this violent act, Couch sent text messages indicating his intentions: \u201cI\u2019m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least,\u201d followed by \u201cI\u2019ll kill myself afterwards.\u201d These messages were disclosed in an affidavit related to his arrest warrant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2342358,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/64db107253c74c758358e59f2cd745c0-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36508,10272,41059,39788,35975],"class_list":["post-2342357","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-crime-news","tag-gunman","tag-interstate-shooting","tag-police-investigation","tag-public-safety"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/64db107253c74c758358e59f2cd745c0-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342357","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342357"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342357\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342358"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342357"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342357"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342357"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}