Eastern Kentucky family receives reward for locating Interstate 75 gunman

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An eastern Kentucky family received part of the reward for finding the body of the Interstate 75 gunman.

Joseph Couch, 32, was accused Sept. 7 of opening fire on drivers on I-75. A total of 12 vehicles were hit, and five drivers were injured by the gunfire. Investigators focused their search in a rugged, wooded area near London, a city of about 8,000 people roughly 75 miles south of Lexington.

The day after the shooting, police searched an area near where Couch's vehicle was found, with a view of I-75. That's where they found a duffel bag, ammunition and spent shell casings, authorities said in an arrest warrant affidavit.

A short distance away, they found an AR-15 rifle with a scope along with several additional magazines. The duffel bag had "Couch" handwritten in black marker. Couch fired 20 to 30 rounds in the attack, investigators said.

Shortly before the shooting, police said Couch wrote in a text message: "I’m going to kill a lot of people. Well try at least." In a separate text message, Couch wrote, "I’ll kill myself afterwards."

Police had urged area residents to be vigilant and look out for their neighbors as searchers try to track down the suspect. The area where Couch was presumed to be hiding had cliff beds, sinkholes, caves and dense brush.

It took 11 days for someone to find Couch in the rugged terrain.

The McCoy family found Couch.

On Tuesday, the McCoys received their first reward check for $10,000, presented by London mayor Randall Weddle and KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington. It was the first of several checks as part of a $35,000 reward from WB Transport.

"Their brave actions were instrumental in bringing closure to this tragic event, and we are deeply thankful for their assistance," the City of London posted on Facebook. "A special thanks to WB Transport for their generous contribution to the reward fund."

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