The Laurel County Sheriff's Office said in their latest update Sunday that crews have been in the woods searching for several hours but still have not found 32-year-old Joseph Couch.
The sheriff's office is coordinating several law enforcement agencies in the ongoing manhunt for the suspect in the Interstate 75 shooting on Saturday in which five were shot and three more injured.
What authorities have found so far in the ongoing manhunt
They said they found an AR-15 and several fully charged magazines in a wooded area next to the interstate.
They also said in the night during their search, authorities found suspect Joseph Couch's vehicle off a forest service road, a silver compact SUV.
They are concentrating their search on top of the hill overlooking exit 49 of I-75 where they found his vehicle.
They said they believe he fired shots from closer to the interstate where they found the gun and ammunition.
Sheriff's Deputy Gilbert Acciardo said that the search effort is slow-going because the area is so remote and thickly wooded.
He said Couch should be considered armed and dangerous still because he "could very easily have another weapon."
Acciardo said the search work is tedious and that KSP were reportedly brining K9 units to aid in the search.
He also said a helicopter is searching from the air.
Acciardo said they believe that Couch is in the woods near the hill they are searching, but they are not ruling out expanding the search.
He confirmed several area churches did not open Sunday erring on the side of caution.
“We think he’s still there, but what if he’s not?" said Acciardo.
Acciardo also said that they had been "bombarded" with reports of people in the area saying they had seen Couch, but none of those leads led to finding him.
Who is involved in the search
Several agencies are assisting the Laurel County Sheriff's Office in their efforts.
They include the following:
ATF Louisville, Kentucky State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Marshal Service, Rockcastle County Sheriff’s Office, East Bernstadt Fire and Rescue, London Fire Department, Bluegrass Army Depot and several other area fire departments.
Also, city police from Lexington, London, Corbin, Williamsburg, Richmond and Mount Vernon are involved.
The sheriff's office said Sunday that the London Laurel Rescue squad is sending their drone that has FLIR (forward-looking infrared) to assist in the search.
FLIR is a type of infrared imaging system that uses thermal imaging to detect heat emitted by objects.
Manhunt resumes Sunday morning during daylight
Law enforcement agencies resumed their search Sunday morning for Couch, who is believed to have shot people on I-75 in Laurel County, Kentucky.
The Laurel County Sheriff's Office said on their social media Sunday morning that numerous agencies are coordinating their search for 32-year-old Joseph Couch during daylight.
Police say Couch fired a gun at people near exit 49 on I-75 around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Status of victims
According to officials, five people were shot and three people were injured in car crashes connected to the incident.
Deputies said they found nine vehicles had been shot into both north and southbound on I-75 and five persons were seriously injured.
Deputies on the scene transported the injured to a local hospital for treatment.
Acciardo said one person was shot in the face and another with a severe injury to their arm. He also said a woman was shot across the chest.
One of the victims is from Kentucky, and the others were from out of state, Acciardo confirmed. He said all victims are still in stable condition at this time.
What happened Saturday, the day of the shooting
Authorities began a search for Couch that went well into the night in the area of rural Laurel County near the interstate.
A little after 9 p.m. Saturday night, London Mayor Randall Weddle took to his social media to record a video for citizens of London and its surrounding areas.
In that update, Weddle said that the suspect was being searched for in a rugged area with a lot of tree-line.
He advised people in the area to keep their doors locked but that there was no immediate danger in London.
“If you’re out and about be vigilant,” Weddle said.
You can see the entire update in the player below.
More on the suspect
Couch is from Woodbine, KY and described as 5 feet, 10 inches, weighing approximately 154 pounds.
Couch is considered to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him should call 911.
Police say he is believed to be the only suspect involved in the shooting incident.
Acciardo emphasized that this shooting was not believed to be a road rage incident.
Impact on area
I-75 was closed for several hours for safety reasons because of the danger to passing cars in the area of the shootings, according to the sheriff's office.
Reaction from current, former elected officials
"Law enforcement continue their investigation into yesterday’s shooting in Laurel County. Let’s all give thanks for their hard work to keep us safe," said Governor Andy Beshear.
Former US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a victim of gun violence and founder of the national gun violence prevention organization GIFFORDS, released the following statement on the shooting Sunday.
“My heart goes out to the victims of this senseless act of violence and the entire Laurel County community. While we await additional details and a full investigation, I’m grateful for the quick response and lifesaving work by first responders. This horrifying attack is another reminder that our broken gun laws put every community at risk. Attacks like yesterday’s are a horrifying reminder of the threat gun violence poses to all of us. Republicans and Democrats must come together to protect our communities and close the gaps that virtually guarantee that someone intent on committing violence has easy access to guns.”