“Semi truck drivers who surrounded school buses” in I-75 mass shooting aftermath praised by congressman

Officials are offering praise to everyone who helped in the immediate aftermath of the Interstate 75 shooting as the hunt for the suspected shooter continues. 

The shooting happened at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 7th on Interstate 75, 75 miles south of Lexington, Kentucky, reported BBC.

According to CBS News, 12 cars were hit and five people were wounded after 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch allegedly parked off of the highway and stood on a cliff overlooking the interstate before firing multiple rounds at the traffic below using an AR-15 style rifle. Two people were seriously wounded, including one shot in the face, but no one was killed in the incident. The shooting brought traffic to a standstill for hours. 

As of 9 a.m. on Monday, September 9th, the search for Couch continues in a dense, hilly, rural part of the state near exit 49.

“Our first responders have been working around the clock now for over 24 hours to locate the suspect accused of turning I-75 in Laurel County into a dangerous firing range on Saturday, injuring 5 people. Thankfully, local police have confirmed that no further shots have been fired today and all the shooting victims are in stable condition,” said Congressman Hal Rodgers in a statement on Facebook. “Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies are coordinating their response, utilizing helicopters and drones with the best technology available, and engaging our experienced officers on the front lines with K-9 units to find the suspected shooter.”

“I also want to applaud all the unsung heroes who aided victims before first responders arrived on the scene, the semi-truck drivers who surrounded school buses to protect our students stuck on the interstate for hours, and those who have donated water and food to the central command post to support our brave first responders. The hope and strength of southeastern Kentucky is shining bright once again, in the midst of this dark hour.”

Couch has a military background and served in the National Guard for at least four years, Acciardo said. Couch has what was described as a “minimal” criminal history, which includes a traffic ticket and a terroristic threat charge that was dismissed.