Crime
Four Victims Released from Hospital Following Kentucky I-75 Shooting
The manhunt for Joseph Couch continues.
Four of the five victims injured in the recent shooting on I-75 have been released from the hospital. Rebecca Puryear, Norma Liberia, Renee Walker, and Janet Booth have all been discharged.
The fifth victim, Erick Tavin, is expected to survive and remains hospitalized.
The grueling manhunt for Joseph Couch has stretched into its sixth day.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear visited Laurel County on Thursday as law enforcement intensifies their search for the I-75 interstate shooter, Joseph Couch.
The manhunt for the 32-year-old suspect has entered its sixth day. Couch is accused of firing at least 20-30 rounds at passing vehicles on Sunday, injuring five people.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Couch sent a text message threatening to “kill a lot of people” approximately 30 minutes before the shooting. Another message indicated he planned to take his own life afterward. The affidavit did not reveal the identity of the recipient.
Thankfully, all five victims are expected to survive. Four have already been released from the hospital, while one remains hospitalized but in stable condition.
“We’re incredibly grateful that everyone will recover,” Governor Beshear stated during his visit, expressing empathy for those affected by the violence. “[Mass shootings are] something no one wants to go through.”
Newly released 911 calls depict the chaotic scene on the interstate. Callers reported multiple gunshot victims with injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to the windshield to hits in the face, chest, hip, and elbow.
The search for Couch is concentrated in a rugged, hilly area near the crime scene. Authorities recovered his SUV with a rifle case near the interstate and later located a semi-automatic weapon believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. A phone believed to be Couch’s was also found, but the battery had been removed.
Prior to the incident, Couch resided in Woodbine, a small community about 20 miles south of the shooting.
“There’s a sense of fear in the community right now,” acknowledged Michael Stansburgy, special agent in charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “This is a rare and unsettling event.”
The shooting also impacted nearby businesses. WarZone Paintball, located close to the scene, was forced to lockdown a group of customers who were outdoors during the attack.
“Everyone was terrified,” recounted Andrea Chavez, manager of WarZone Paintball. “People were reaching out to loved ones, just trying to let them know they were safe.”
A witness to the shooting, Christina DiNoto, shared her ongoing emotional distress after the traumatic experience.
The search for Joseph Couch remains ongoing, and law enforcement is utilizing all available resources to apprehend him.
Crime
Yesenia Mendez charged with arson in connection with fire that killed Houston Firefighter Marcelo Garcia
Yesenia Mendez, 38, has been charged with first-degree arson in connection with a fire that tragically claimed the life of Houston Fire Department Firefighter Marcelo “Ox” Garcia III on November 6, 2024.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Mendez was apprehended by Houston Police Department officers with the support of Precinct 6 officers earlier today.
Authorities report that Mendez is believed to have deliberately ignited the fire at 6536 Supply Row, where Firefighter Garcia was killed in the line of duty after a wall collapsed during the intense 3-alarm blaze.
Over 100 firefighters responded to the incident, which HFD Arson Bureau investigators have since determined was intentionally set.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office are actively contributing to this ongoing investigation.
In a statement, Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz expressed appreciation for the collaboration of local and federal agencies, including HFD Arson, Houston Police Department, and METRO Police, which has been crucial in bringing forth the charges.
“This charge is a critical first step in a long journey of healing for the firefighters of Houston,” Chief Muñoz remarked, underscoring the profound impact of Garcia’s death on the fire department and the community. Funeral arrangements for Firefighter Marcelo Garcia are forthcoming as the Houston Fire Department and Garcia’s family, friends, and colleagues mourn his loss.
The community remains hopeful that justice will be served for Garcia and his family during this challenging time.