Crime
Victims injured in Laurel County mass shooting identified, suspect still at large
Couch, 32, faces five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the individuals injured in the mass shooting that occurred in London on Saturday.
The victims include Rebecca Puryear, Norma Liberia, Renee Walker, Janet Booth, and Erick Tavin.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele has announced that arrest warrants have been obtained for Joseph Couch.
Couch, 32, faces five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.
Additional charges are expected to be filed in the future.
The Kentucky State Police have taken the lead in the search for Couch, with troopers from various regions of the state being deployed to assist.
The search resumed at 8 AM on Monday morning.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office and London Police Department are also actively involved in the search efforts.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the location and arrest of Joseph Couch, as confirmed by officials with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.
Crime
River Ridge man kills wife, 2-year-old before Jefferson Parish deputies kill him
Sheriff Lopinto described the 911 call as critical to the rapid response and praised the child who called as “a brave little girl.”
Sheriff Joseph Lopinto of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) announced an ongoing investigation into a tragic incident involving a double homicide and a deputy-involved shooting early Friday morning in River Ridge, Louisiana.
Around 4:00 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from a child reporting multiple gunshot victims inside a residence on the 10000 block of Stephen Drive.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a harrowing scene.
An adult female and a 2-year-old child were found unresponsive and suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
Two additional juvenile females, ages 9 and 13, were found injured but alive.
Both were transported to Children’s Hospital.
The 9-year-old remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery, while the 13-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle.
While securing the residence, deputies encountered an armed adult male suspect, later identified as the father of the juvenile victims, in a back bedroom.
Deputies reported that the suspect brandished a firearm, prompting multiple officers to fire their service weapons.
The suspect was struck multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.
Preliminary evidence indicates that the suspect shot all four victims before being confronted and fatally wounded by deputies.
Sheriff Lopinto described the 911 call as critical to the rapid response and praised the child who called as “a brave little girl.”
- Deceased:
- 40-year-old mother.
- 2-year-old child.
- Suspect (father).
- Injured:
- 9-year-old child (critical condition).
- 13-year-old child (non-life-threatening injuries).
The JPSO continues to investigate the incident, including the circumstances leading to the shootings and the actions of deputies at the scene.
Sheriff Lopinto emphasized the gravity of the tragedy and assured the community that the investigation would be thorough and transparent.
No further details are available at this time. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.