Kentucky highway shooting suspect found dead, officials believe

The suspect within the Kentucky highway shooting earlier this month is believed to have been found lifeless, authorities introduced Wednesday. 

Remains seemingly belonging to 32-year-old Joseph Couch have been found within the space off exit 49 of Interstate 75 in Laurel County, the identical exit close to which the shooting occurred, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip “PJ” Burnett, Jr. mentioned in a information convention. A weapon was additionally found with the physique as effectively. 

The unidentified physique was found at about 3:30 p.m. native time by “two troopers and two civilians” in “deep brush,” Burnett disclosed. 

“There were articles associated with the body that at this time we feel is Joseph Couch,” the commissioner mentioned. 

The physique will probably be despatched to the coroner in Frankfort, Kentucky, for optimistic identification Thursday. There was no phrase on a explanation for dying. 

Couch had been the topic of a manhunt within the southeastern a part of the state since 5 folks have been shot on Interstate 75 on the night of Sept. 7.

All 5 victims have been anticipated to outlive the shooting, which occurred close to London, a metropolis with a inhabitants of about 8,000 outdoors Daniel Boone National Forest.

Burnett mentioned that the 2 troopers — who had been participating in a seek for Couch all through the day — noticed vultures within the air, and when looking for the supply of what was attracting them, seen “a strong odor of what was believed to be decomposing flesh.”

At about that very same time, the troopers heard voices and stumbled on a civilian couple, recognized because the McCoys, who mentioned they have been additionally trying to find the suspect as effectively.

“Almost immediately after that interaction…the troopers and McCoys stumbled upon an unidentified body,” mentioned Burnett, who thanked the couple for being “very cooperative” and offering troopers “with relevant information.”

The McCoys appeared to have been livestreaming the invention on social media. However, Burnett indicated that the troopers have been with them when the physique was found.

“We did have troopers that were right there with them,” Burnett mentioned. 

Burnett mentioned that the panorama and the thick brush made the search tough, describing the world as “some of the most treacherous terrain that there is in Kentucky.”

State police had warned folks that the suspect must be thought-about armed and harmful as authorities spent days trying to find him within the dense forest.

Officials had urged residents to examine in on their neighbors, maintain off on outside actions and scroll via footage from their safety cameras earlier than returning residence after going out. Schools have been closed throughout the area within the days instantly after the shooting.

Investigators recovered from an space close to the shooting an AR-15 rifle and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition that the suspect purchased legally on the day of the shooting, authorities beforehand mentioned.

Burnett had no regrets about how the multiday manhunt was performed.

“I feel like we put forth our best efforts, everybody did, every day.” 

According to an arrest warrant obtained by CBS News final week, the suspect had despatched a textual content message lower than half-hour earlier than the shooting through which he wrote that he deliberate to “kill a lot of people.” The girl who acquired that textual content referred to as 911 previous to the shooting and alerted emergency dispatchers, the affidavit learn. 

The Lexington Herald-Leader recognized the lady because the suspect’s ex-wife. Laurel County Sheriff John Root mentioned Wednesday that the motive for the shooting stays below investigation. 

The suspect had served within the Army Reserve for practically six years as a fight engineer with none deployments, based on an Army spokesperson.

contributed to this report.