Several injured in highway shooting in Kentucky; Suspect at large

Several people were injured in a shooting along a major highway in Kentucky, US authorities announced, as the gunman remains at large.

Between four and six individuals were hit by gunfire, according to Kentucky State Police spokesperson Scotty Pennington, though details on their conditions were not immediately available.

The shooting occurred in Laurel County, around 145 kilometres south of Lexington, along Interstate 75, a major north-south route spanning much of the United States.

Local news outlet WYMT, citing the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, reported that while there were “serious injuries,” no fatalities had been confirmed at this stage.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for 32-year-old Joseph Couch, who is suspected of carrying out the attack. He is described as “armed and dangerous.”

A section of the interstate was closed in both directions.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged residents via X (formerly Twitter) to avoid the area, stating, “More details will be provided as they become available.”

“Please avoid I-75 until further notice. Use alternate routes and stay clear,” echoed Randall Weddle, the mayor of nearby London, a city of 8,000 residents, in a Facebook post.

The incident unfolded just before 6:00 p.m. local time when police were alerted by reports of vehicles being shot at along the highway.

The United States, where firearms outnumber residents, has the highest rate of gun-related deaths among developed nations. Gun violence remains a persistent issue, with successive governments failing to implement effective measures to curb the crisis, largely due to the powerful gun lobby and widespread public resistance to restrictions.

Earlier this week, a 14-year-old shot and killed two classmates and two teachers, injuring nine others, at a high school in Winder, Georgia.