1 Authorities Searching For Shooter Who Wounded Seven On Kentucky Interstate
Yesterday came to an end with no results in the Kentucky manhunt for a suspect alleged to have fired multiple rounds at passing vehicles on I-75. The shooting happened around 5:30 pm local time on Saturday, with at least nine vehicles hit by gunfire according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Gilbert Acciardo, and five people were injured. The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch, who police say was off Exit 49 on the interstate and not in a vehicle when he opened fire. All five of the victims were in stable condition in local hospitals last night, even though some of the injuries were considered “very serious,” including one person who was shot in the face. Authorities don’t believe anyone was targeted by the shooter, who they say chose the location. Couch has a military background and served in the National Guard, and has what officials described as a “minimal” criminal history that includes a traffic ticket and a terroristic threat charge that was dismissed. Couch’s vehicle and weapon, described as an “AR rifle,” were recovered by officers. Couch is considered to be armed and dangerous.
2 Wildfire East Of Los Angeles Spreading Rapidly, Threatening Over 30,000 Homes
A wildfire called the Line Fire is exploding east of Los Angeles along the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire, which had burned around 27-square-miles of grass as of yesterday morning, burned so hot on Saturday that it created its own thunderstorms. Evacuation orders were issued for Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, and several other areas. Officials say the fire is extremely unpredictable, and could cause problems for firefighters because it could move in any direction. Three firefighters had been injured battling the blaze as of yesterday, and more than 35,000 structures were threatened by the flames. While thunderstorms might sound like something that would aide firefighters, officials say it could mean the opposite. Mentioning lightning that’s generated by the storms, state firefighters said yesterday morning, “Afternoon thunderstorms could cause new ignitions and potentially influence activity around the fire perimeter.” Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for San Bernardino County Saturday night.
3 Hurricane Francine Could Threaten Louisiana Coastline This Week
Between now and Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center is predicting that a system in the Gulf of Mexico will become Hurricane Francine, with its sights set on the western Louisiana coastline. The waters in the Gulf are warm, which means there’s plenty of fuel for the storm to develop strength before making landfall Wednesday night near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The storm will travel inland on a northeasterly track according to the forecast, affecting western Mississippi, eastern Arkansas, and parts of Tennessee and Missouri as a tropical depression through Friday.