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Kentucky: Manhunt resumes after cars shot at on US highway

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Kentucky: Manhunt resumes after cars shot at on US highway
Kentucky: Manhunt resumes after cars shot at on US highway

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A manhunt continues for a second day in the US state of Kentucky after a number of people were shot on a highway near the city of London on Saturday.

The incident began at about 17:30 local time (21:30 GMT). Police arrived and found nine vehicles had been shot into, near Interstate 75.

Seven people have been injured, five of those seriously, according to the Laurel County Sheriff.

Authorities have named Joseph A Couch, 32, as a person of interest and say he is considered armed and dangerous.

Mr Couch, from Woodbine in Kentucky, is described as 5’10” (178cm) and weighing approximately 154 pounds (70kg).

Law enforcement gave an update on Sunday as the search resumed.

“It’s a very fluid investigation,” Deputy Gilbert Acciardo of the Lauren County Sheriff’s office said during a briefing, according to the Associated Press.

“Our people are still on the scene,” he said. “Our special response team is there. We are trying to find a shooter there.”

The Laurel County Sheriff’s office is coordinating a ground search, and authorities were using a drone to assist. Officials said the woods in the area are thick and the search is slow-going.

Police say they found a firearm in the area on Sunday that they believe was used in the shootings.

Mr Couch’s vehicle was also found on Saturday night. There was a a gun case inside but no weapon, according to officials.

Officers say shots were fired into vehicles travelling in both directions along the highway.

The I–75 was closed for several hours because of the danger to passing cars.

According to local media, shots may have been fired from a wooded area near to the highway, or from an overpass.

Five people were shot and some maintained “very serious” injuries, Mr Acciardo said, including one person shot in the face.

All were in stable condition as of Sunday morning.

Authorities had rushed to lock down the scene when they first arrived Saturday evening, according to Mr Acciardo.

“When our first two units got to the scene there, they said it was a madhouse,” he said.

“People on the sides of the road, emergency flashers going, bullet holes, windows shot out, nine vehicles shot,” he said. “Can you imagine that? Just chaotic”

London, Kentucky’s mayor, Randall Weddle, asked residents to be cautious and “keep your doors locked”, but said they were in no immediate danger.

“If you’re out and about, just be vigilant,” he said in a social media video posted on Saturday night.

The town of London, near the site of the highway shootings, has about 8,000 residents and is near the Daniel Boone National Forest.

Mr Weddle on Saturday night described the search area as having “rugged terrain”.

Speaking to CNN, Christina DiNoto, who was driving on the I-75 with a friend at the time of the shooting, said “it was like a rock went through my back window”, hurting her ear.

“We looked at each other and we were like, ‘Was that a gunshot?’ And then we’re like, ‘No, that wasn’t a gunshot.'”

She said it was only an hour and a half later they learnt that there had been a shooting.

Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear wrote on social media that the area should be avoided, and urged the public to “pray for everyone involved”.

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