Crime
I-75 shooting in Kentucky was not road rage incident, suspect Joseph Couch still at large
Officials urge folks to stay home and keep their doors locked in northern Laurel County & southern Rockcastle County.
Laurel County authorities are intensifying their search for Joseph Couch, the suspect in a shooting incident on Interstate 75 that left five people injured.
Joseph Couch, the suspected shooter, had a Facebook profile that indicated he once served in the U.S. Army and worked as a 911 dispatcher.
His favorite quote was, “Only the dead can be at peace.”
Oddly, his most recent public post dates back to 2015.
According to his sister-in-law, Couch had previously made threats against family members, which she reported to the police.
The manhunt entered its second day on Sunday as law enforcement officers combed through a remote, wooded area near exit 49.
During the search, authorities discovered an AR-15 rifle and several loaded magazines in the vicinity of the shooting. Additionally, Couch’s vehicle, a silver SUV, was located off a forest service road.
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office stated during a recent briefing that the shooting was a random act, unrelated to any altercation between drivers.
Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo described the search as challenging due to the rugged terrain and dense vegetation. He warned that Couch should be considered armed and dangerous, as he may have additional weapons.
While authorities believe Couch is still hiding in the woods, they are not ruling out the possibility of him having moved.
Acciardo confirmed that several area churches remained closed on Sunday as a precautionary measure.
Despite numerous reports of sightings, law enforcement has yet to apprehend Couch.
The suspect, who is believed to be the sole individual involved in the shooting, is described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 154 pounds.
Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to 911.
On November 8, 2024, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal felony charge against Christian Martin, 18, in connection with the October 28 fatal shooting of 15-year-old Nelson Manuel López Correa, who died days later from a gunshot wound to the head.
Following the filing of charges, a felony arrest warrant for Martin was issued on Monday, November 11.
Martin is charged with first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to the criminal complaint, López Correa was with a girl he was dating and another male teen near the 1600 block of W. Forest Home Avenue when Martin, who had previously dated the same girl, approached them.
The complaint states that Martin had spoken to the girl the previous day, but upon seeing her with López Correa, he allegedly initiated a conversation with her.
She reportedly told him she no longer wanted to date him, at which point Martin struck her on the side.
As she and López Correa stood by a bus stop, Martin allegedly shot López Correa from behind, causing the girl to flee to a nearby gas station.
Police recovered surveillance footage from the scene, showing Martin allegedly shooting López Correa and the girl running from the area.
The other male teen who was with López Correa told police he had briefly gone home to check the bus schedule.
As he was returning to the bus stop, he heard a gunshot and saw López Correa fall, at which point Martin had reportedly fled.
In the wake of López Correa’s tragic death, his family is organizing a “Justice for Nelson Manuel López Correa” peaceful march on November 16, 2024, to raise awareness and call for justice.
The gathering will begin at 9:30 a.m. at S. 16 Street and W. Forest Home Avenue. Around 10:40 a.m., participants will march to the Milwaukee Police Department’s District 2 Station at 245 W. Lincoln Avenue in Milwaukee.