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Officials shift focus for London shooting suspect. What to know about the new approach

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Officials shift focus for London shooting suspect. What to know about the new approach


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Kentucky officials are pivoting the focus of their search for Joseph Couch, the man accused of shooting five people and 12 cars on Interstate 75 on Sept. 7, away from the Daniel Boone National Forest and toward community centers, according to a Kentucky State Police news release issued Tuesday.

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The announcement comes 10 days after the shooting occurred, which spurred a manhunt that sprawled 28,000 acres of rugged, dense forest and utilized helicopters, drones and on-the-ground search techniques. The manhunt is now called off, and law enforcement officials will focus on increasing their presence in nearby residential areas.

“In the beginning, the best way to find the suspect was in the forest. As that has become less likely over the past several days, our best plan to provide safety now is to augment law enforcement in this community to where our people are,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in the news release. “Beginning this afternoon, we will begin transitioning state and local law enforcement and agencies from a manhunt to a larger presence in the community. We stand united in this approach and our commitment to protect people of this region.”

The Kentucky State Police will continue leading the search effort in the Daniel Boone National Forest, albeit with scaled back methods, according to the release. The agency is withdrawing its personnel and will use aircraft and cameras that have been placed throughout the forest.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office will continue leading the shooting investigation, and state and local law enforcement presence in public areas, like along roadways, at schools and at sporting events, will increase.

“This will include moving patrols onto roadways, increasing security and visibility at local schools and bus routes and increasing the presence of law enforcement at local sporting events,” Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said in the release. “We feel the best way to prioritize community safety is to use technology and aircraft while transitioning the bulk of our state and local law enforcement resources out of the forest and into our communities.”

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U.S. Marshals consider Couch a fugitive

The U.S. Marshals Service is considering Couch a fugitive, spokesperson Jeremy Honaker said in the release. The federal fugitive task force, a law enforcement body focused on capturing wanted violent criminals, will continue to provide resources to local and state agencies in the search for Couch.

Couch, 32, was identified by Laurel County officials as a person of interest in the I-75 shooting the night of the incident. He was named a suspect a day later.

He’s been charged in the incident by Commonwealth’s Attorney Jackie Steele, the felony prosecutor for Laurel County, with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault.

Officials are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to Couch’s arrest.

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What happened in the London shooting?

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 following reports of a gunshot victim on I-75 near Exit 49 and U.S. Route 25, roughly eight miles north of London. Officers noticed multiple vehicles parked on the side of the highway with broken windows and visible bullet holes when they arrived. Twelve vehicles were found shot on both sides of the roadway and five individuals were injured — all of them survived.

The shooting caused an hours-long closure of I-75 as the search for a suspect commenced.

Authorities located Couch’s car, a silver SUV, the night of the shooting. On the afternoon of Sept. 8, police found an AR-15 in the wooded area near Exit 49 of I-75, along with fully loaded magazines. Authorities said at the time that the weapon may have been used in the shooting.

An employee of a nearby gun shop, Center Target Firearms, confirmed to police that Couch had purchased an AR-15 and 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the store the morning of the shooting, according to an affidavit released by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. The firearm discovered by police matched the description of the one Couch purchased that day.

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Couch also told the mother of his child via text that he was planning to “kill a lot of people” less than an hour before the incident, according to the affidavit. He added that he planned to kill himself afterward.



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Kentucky man arrested after police said he was riding horse while intoxicated

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Kentucky man arrested after police said he was riding horse while intoxicated


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WKRC) — A Kentucky man was arrested Thursday after police said he was riding a horse while intoxicated, reports WBKO.

Bowling Green police said they found 48-year-old Jorge Luis Hernandez on a horse, partially slumped over, as it walked along a road. He and the horse then began traveling on a sidewalk, according to an arrest record.

Police said Hernandez had a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage” and had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and delayed movements. Hernandez said he had just left the liquor store and had a liquor store bag tied to the horse’s saddle.

Hernandez was arrested and charged with operating a non-motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.

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Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur

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Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Senate candidate Charles Booker and Beaver Dam Mayor and Kentucky League of Cities President Paul Sandefur.



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Kentucky among Southeastern states receiving FEMA disaster recovery funding

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Kentucky among Southeastern states receiving FEMA disaster recovery funding


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced the approval of nearly $23 million in funding to support natural disaster recovery throughout the Southeast.

Kentucky is among several states receiving funds for state-managed recovery programs after Hurricane Helene and other past disasters hit the Southeast, a news release from FEMA said.

According to FEMA, Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee will administer more than $2.1 million for disaster unemployment assistance to help those who may not be able to work as a direct result of a disaster.

Kentucky, alongside Georgia and Tennessee, was also awarded $2.4 million to fund crisis counseling and mental health support.

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The funds will help pay for counselors and other services to help people with disaster-related stress and trauma, according to FEMA.

More information about state-managed recovery programs funded by FEMA can be found on the agency’s website.



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