A Kentucky couple while livestreaming near the vicinity of a mass shooting on Kentucky interstate, found the body of the alleged gunman suspected of shooting at vehicles on Interstate 75 earlier this month.
In a dramatic turn of events, a Kentucky couple has been credited with aiding authorities in locating the remains of the alleged gunman suspected of perpetrating a mass shooting on Interstate 75 in Kentucky earlier this month. The couple, Fred and Sheila McCoy, who typically spend their retired days creating YouTube videos about the Hatfield-McCoy feud, spent days combing through rugged terrain before stumbling upon a body believed to be that of Joseph Couch.
"For one week we turned into bounty hunters," Fred McCoy told The Associated Press. "The more we watched the news and saw lockdowns and school closings, the more we were compelled to search for him."
Kentucky Couple Finds Body in Manhunt for Mass Shooting Suspect
Couch, 32, is suspected of opening fire on the freeway on September 7th, wounding five people. Authorities believe he fired between 20 to 30 rounds, resulting in severe injuries for some of the victims.
An extensive search operation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement teams covered thousands of acres of woodland in an attempt to apprehend the gunman. On Wednesday, the Kentucky State Police confirmed the discovery of a body in the vicinity of exit 49 off Interstate 75 in Laurel County.
Kentucky Couple Finds Body in Manhunt for Mass Shooting Suspect
Authorities believe the body is that of Couch, and the Kentucky State Police have stated that the McCoys will receive a $25,000 reward for their role in the discovery. The body is currently undergoing examination at the coroner's office for positive identification.
In a YouTube livestream video recorded on Wednesday, the McCoys captured the moment they encountered the wooded area where the search was being conducted. Sheila McCoy, 59, expressed a foul odor, exclaiming, "Oh, Lord, this is nasty. Oh, my goodness, this is gross."
Kentucky Couple Finds Body in Manhunt for Mass Shooting Suspect
Approximately 12 minutes before discovering the remains, the couple notified officers in the vicinity and informed them of their presence and livestreaming activity. Fred McCoy, a retired police officer, explained that this measure was taken to ensure their safety in case of an unexpected encounter.
"We didn’t know we was going to find him like that," he said. "We could’ve found him with a gun pointed at us."
Kentucky Couple Finds Body in Manhunt for Mass Shooting Suspect
The McCoys' decision to assist in the search stemmed from a Friday night date, according to Fred McCoy. "We were just a crippled old man and crippled old woman walking in the woods," he said on Thursday. McCoy mentioned his familial connection to the Hatfield-McCoy feud and the couple's involvement in running a small museum dedicated to preserving the feud's history.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
