Body found near Kentucky highway shooting site is confirmed as suspect Joseph Couch

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Kentucky officials confirmed on Friday that a body discovered near a highway shooting site belongs to suspected shooter Joseph Couch. The body was found on Wednesday by state authorities and a civilian couple, who identified it based on additional items found with the remains. Couch is believed to have injured five people in a shooting spree on September 7.

An autopsy determined the cause of Couch's death to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Kentucky's Chief Medical Examiner, William Ralston, stated that the body was in a state of decomposition that prevented identification through soft tissue DNA. However, Couch was positively identified using DNA extracted from bone.

Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed gratitude to those involved in the search, emphasizing the importance of community recovery. "We will continue to be there for those injured as well as the Laurel County community," he stated.

As of now, law enforcement officials have not determined a motive for the shooting, and it remains unclear if there was a specific target. Couch's death was confirmed following a nearly two-week statewide manhunt for the suspect.