‘Dead or alive:’ Manhunt for Kentucky highway shooter intensifies after nearly a week of no news

The manhunt stretched into its fifth day on Thursday as authorities search for the alleged gunman

Officials have insisted they will find the suspect of a mass shooting on a Kentucky interstate "dead or alive," after nearly one week of searching for him in the wilderness.

Efforts resumed on Thursday to track down Joseph A Couch, 32, who allegedly opened fire on vehicles travelling along the I-75 near exit 49 on Saturday at around 5:30pm.

Now, five days following the shooting, which sent five people to hospital with gunshot wounds, the search has made use of helicopters and drones equipped with infrared technology and special response teams and trained dogs, according to NBC News.

"Dead or alive, it's our job to find him," Kentucky State Police (KSP) trooper Scottie Pennington told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

Officials have also asked the public not to approach Couch if spotted, as he is considered “armed and dangerous,” and to report tips of any sightings of the suspected gunman.

Joseph A Couch is still at large after being accused of shooting five in Kentucky on Saturday night (Laurel County Sheriff’s Office)

Initially led by Laurel County Sheriff's Office (LCSO), the KSP is now spearheading the search.

Pennington also urged residents in the areas surrounding exit 49 – where they still believe Couch to be – to keep their doors locked, check their home security systems, and even "suspend activities" such as hunting.

The area where authorities believe alleged Kentucky shooter Joseph A Couch to be hiding has been described as ‘very unforgiving’ (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Reporters at the press conference asked questions regarding Couch's welfare, considering he has supposedly been in the "very unforgiving terrain” with dense vegetation, cliffs, and mountains for five days now.

Noting the hotter Tuesday weather, Pennington said, "I hope he doesn't have water, I hope he doesn't have food."

He added, "I hope he's worn out and basically going to walk out of the woods."

The suspected gunman's arrest warrant has revealed he allegedly sent a text vowing to "kill a lot of people" to an unidentified woman before the shooting started on Saturday.

In one text message, sent less than 30 minutes before allegedly opening fire from a cliff ledge next to exit 49, the warrant claims Couch wrote, “I’ll kill myself afterwards…”

The warrant states that the woman called 911 after receiving the alarming messages, and later showed police screenshots of the text on Sunday morning, according to CBS News.

Saturday’s shooting is not the only one to rock Kentuckians over the last five days, after Samuel White, 75, was shot and killed on Tuesday following an argument at a logging yard in Wayne County.

After a search in the woods, KSP detained the suspected murderer, 66-year-old Willard Upchurch, who is now being held at Wayne County Detention Center, according to WKYT.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you