Search on to nab gunman who injured 7 in Kentucky

A manhunt was underway early Sunday as police searched for a gunman in a rural area of southeastern Kentucky near Interstate 75, according to authorities who said up to seven people were hurt in the shooting and a vehicle accident that accompanied the violence.

The shooting began just after 6:30 pm Saturday and was followed by an intense search for a suspect by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on Facebook that it was an “active shooter situation” and “numerous persons” were shot near the highway.

In a video statement, London Mayor Randall Weddle said he was told seven people were hurt, but not all of those were wounded by gunfire. Some of the victims were injured in an accident when the shooting started, he said.

“There are no deceased at this time. No one was killed from this, thankfully, but we ask that you continue to pray,” Weddle said.

Hospital officials at Saint Joseph London said in a statement that the facility was treating multiple patients. The hospital added that the people it received had minor injuries. Jay Blanton, a spokesperson for the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, said two victims were admitted but he did not have any information on their conditions.

The sheriff’s office also announced that a “Person of Interest” has been identified in connection with the shooting, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous and people should not approach him. The man’s name was given as Joseph A Couch, a 32-year-old white male, and anyone with information about his location was urged to call the county 911 centre.

State lawmakers from Laurel County urged residents in the area to stay home as police continued to search for the shooter.

“Without a doubt, this is an act of senseless violence that does not reflect the values of this community, our Commonwealth, or its people,” they said in a statement.