Officials believe body found in Laurel County, likely to be Joseph Couch

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. – Kentucky State Police believe the body of a man found in Laurel County Wednesday evening to be that of Joseph Couch, the man accused of shooting at several vehicles along I75.

A body was found near the rural southeastern Kentucky site where a gunman opened fire on an interstate highway, hitting a dozen vehicles and wounding five people, police said Wednesday.

Investigators are working to identify the body, but officials believe due to the items found near the body, that it is Couch. An autopsy will be completed on Thursday. It was located in the vicinity of the Interstate 75 exit where the Sept. 7 shooting occurred near London.

Officials announced during a press conference on Wednesday that two people aided in finding the body. Fred  McCoy and his wife will receive an award of $25,000, according to law enforcement officials.

The shooting put residents on edge, and many took extra precautions with the suspected gunman, 32-year-old Joseph Couch, still at large.

Hundreds of law enforcement personnel have taken part in the massive search, which focused on a rugged, wooded area near where the assailant sprayed the highway with bullets.