The reason behind the shooting remained unclear, causing widespread concern among citizens and resulting in the closure of schools and churches.
According to police, a body found in rural southeastern Kentucky on Sept. 18 is believed to be that of the man suspected of shooting and injuring five people and damaging 12 vehicles on an interstate highway near London earlier in the month.
The discovery marks the end of a nearly two-week manhunt for the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch.
During the search, search teams covered 28,000 acres of land, focusing mainly on the Daniel Boone National Forest, utilizing search dogs, helicopters, and drones.
Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. announced at a press conference that the unidentified body was located around 3:30 p.m. in dense foliage behind exit 49 of the highway, the location of the initial shooting on Sept. 7.
The body was found by two troopers and two civilians who were searching for Couch. Troopers had been scouring the area all day after spotting vultures in the air.
Items believed to belong to the suspect were found alongside the body, and it will be sent to a medical examiner in Frankfort for identification.
Law enforcement will continue to investigate the area where the body was discovered, according to Burnett.
Residents can now feel more at ease as the manhunt for Joseph Couch has come to an end, Burnett assured. He also acknowledged the civilians who aided in finding the body, stating that they would receive a reward of $25,000.
Authorities did not disclose the cause of death or the duration the body had been there. They also did not reveal the articles found with the body.
Earlier, authorities alleged that Couch fired at traffic near Interstate 75, north of London, on Sept. 7, shooting multiple rounds and hitting several vehicles and individuals who survived.
Couch was identified as the suspect after his SUV was recovered near the scene, and a semi-automatic gun believed to be used in the shooting was found nearby.
Described as a white male, approximately 5-foot-10, and weighing around 154 lbs, Couch was from Woodbine, Kentucky, and was considered armed and dangerous.
Sheriff John Root of Laurel County expressed disappointment that the body was found in such a condition, stating that he would have preferred Couch to be alive to face justice.
Melanie Sun and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Please rewrite this sentence.
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