Kentucky I-75 shooting: Suspect legally bought AR-15 on day of attack | LiveNOW from FOX

but now we do want to Pivot to some breaking news that we have been monitoring. throughout the last couple of days. The Surge continues for the suspect involved in the I75, shooting that happened in Kentucky last night. investigators just stepping up to this Podium to provide more details on how that search is going. Let's get to this next live. Okay. I I think I've seen enough of you folks, since Saturday, and I just want to tell you how much that we appreciate what you're doing getting the word out about this. Uh, we couldn't do it without you. and we do need to get the information out. So what we decided to do is have a joint press conference and I'm I'm appreciate you all coming tonight. uh, and bring all the stakeholders in and let each person. and each agency tell you what we are doing. to, to capture this suspect. And to uh, to get get our community back. So without any further ado, of course to serve All yours. Okay, guys, I want to thank you for being here today. Uh, you guys have done a wonderful job Uh, first and foremost, we want to uh, our sympathy and the prayers to these victims. uh, please everyone if they will remember these families. Uh, remember all our law enforcement agencies, uh, I'm going to try to give you a brief. synopsis on all you got a lot of questions on the containment. while we're doing this. what we're doing. Uh, we will open it up. later. Uh, uh, after, uh, we have after, uh, more spokesmen and hopefully, we can answer your questions. Uh, we will stay on track. Uh, with this is open investigation. So they may be some things that we can't answer. Uh, we will try our best to get you answer, but we may not be able to answer it at this time. Uh, we'll stay strictly with what we got. Uh, we're not going to try to deal, you know, with the what ifs and could it be and we're going to try to give you actual factual what we're doing. Uh, once again, I appreciate each and every 1 of you all for being here. and uh, putting the Anderson getting this out to Republic. Uh it's very tragic. Uh, this is something that uh, you know, you don't foresee but uh, but it has happened and I can kind of tell you the way that, uh, we're handling the situation. As you can see, we have many partners here in law enforcement. the Kentucky State Police. who have just done a wonderful job uh, with us. uh, they provided uh, Manpower resources, whatever, Uh, doing a great job. But with us, um, we have our partners here at County attorneys, uh, legal team, Commonwealth attorneys, and along with the, uh, London. City. uh, police agency represented by the mayor. Chief and assistant chief. FBI and ATL. so, uh, with this group here, surely we can get you some answers. Uh, yesterday. Um as you all are aware, I'm sure you went through we did have a shooter uh, at the Exit 49. uh, they have been 5 victims. That's confirmed. um, I think they're all going to be um, okay. it's nothing. I don't think we're going to have no fatalities, just keep like I say when I open keep all them in your prayers. Uh I don't think they'll be no fatalities. Um, uh, but we, uh, we have got there was a shooter it appears that he was using a AR-15. as the primary weapon. Uh, we have uh, located uh, evidence at the scene we know where the shots, was fired from. uh, his location. Uh, some cartridges. and a gun, and a vehicle. um, everyone that we have. names that we've come in contact, contact contact with, has been interviewed. and uh, we have just, uh, we, I, I just, everyone together with the joint. Effort has done a, just an outstanding job with this. And I'm so very proud of all of them. Uh, also want to give a special recognition to some people that are are law enforcement, You know, they they wear down but we uh, we have more coming in and and, uh, the dispatchers at Laurel dispatch is not just been a phenomenal. They took the initial call. uh, they have uh, stood with us. They've took all the calls, of course, you know, we got a lot of calls that we, we see this guy here. We see him here. uh, we have checked all those calls we do not know that he has left that area. that's why. we're concentrating on this Exit 49. We've had calls. Uh, on all parts of the county we've had to calls out of the county. Those have been followed up and none of that is so uh, so what I'm going to do at this time, I know the big question is, what are we doing? And the containment why are we at Exit 49? Uh I have uh my lead investigator. uh, detective. uh Richard uh or Commander Richard down Ripple. uh he's the lead investigator on this and also he's the uh, uh, the commander of s SRT team And at this time, I'll let him come up and kind of explain what we're doing. and the containment, hopefully that will answer some questions. and then after he speaks, we'll open it up and, uh, if you guys have questions, we'll try to get you answered. Thank you, Sheriff. So, I'm going to address what we did up to tonight. and and then I'll tell you the steps that we have taken this evening. Um, yesterday When the shooting occurred, the shooting occurred about 5:30 by the time we pinned down. the vehicle, informed a pretty good theory of what happened. It was close to dark. uh, that terrain at Exit 49. where we believe the shots had come from. very unforgiving terrain, not a safe place to put people. in the dark. searching for a needle in a hay stack. so, we put, we formed a perimeter last night at Exit 49, we had a counter sniper team. there all night long. Um, We did not continue. actively searching, we just contained it Last night, we waited for daylight in order to uh approach it again and see if we could locate that actual crime scene. um, we went back this morning. uh, we took a tactical team took a the mountain. and we located 3, different sites where there was evidence as a sheriff. Said, we located Uh, where we are now certain that the shots were fired from. Um We have searched that area all day long. Um, and at sometime this afternoon, I don't exactly what time we did it. We have asked the KSP to step in and take over the Manhunt and run the Manhunt for us because we have, uh, exhausted the Personnel. we had available to do it. Uh, we will continue the criminal investigation. throughout in conjunction with the FBI. ATF. the city. Everyone here. Um, but we at this point have turned the Manhunt over to the Kentucky State Police and we will be assisting them moving forward in that regard. That's it, As far as the containment is concerned. and I, I would like to say, you know, to the residents, you know, I think a question is, you know, you guys quit at night, Why what's to say you know this guy's not moving on the ground at night. Well, he may be, you know, last night. we're not going to send deputies Troopers. FBI agents or whatever in walking through the woods because Woods because we do know this guy is armed. U supposedly armed. And that's why you know he could be sent and you know we're not going to be sitting ducks in the woods But we did have a snipers that was on point. uh that stayed at seen all night last night. uh, looking at the ridge where the shots was fired from, and I can guarantee you 1 Thing. We we're doing a aggressive patrols, I I spoke with uh, uh, the KSP, uh public affairs officer Scotty over here. And he says, you know, they have like 20 units that's going to be in the area on patrol tonight. Uh the sheriff's office has petroleum units. The city has Patrol units, We've had numerous numerous outside agencies, that's come in, uh, to tell us. So, when we say, you know, these, uh, efforts to seize at night, it's just for the safety. of those. that searching. but still, yet we have Patrol leverage going So at this time, I will open it up and we will do our best to try to answer your questions. Sheriff. Well, my message would be, you know, that we would ask that he would give himself up. Uh, and we're not going to quit until we do lay hands on him, you know, and we was really hoping maybe we wish that would have been last night. We was hoping today. Uh, we hope tonight we hope tomorrow, but uh, this effort is not going to stop. Uh, we've already got uh all the um arrest warrants. Uh, uh, the Commonwealth Attorney here is uh has prepared that looked over that. everything's in place. So if we do lay hands on him that we, uh, we will take him into custody. So if he's watching uh, it would be his best interest to, you know, surrender and uh, turn himself in. hopefully. no, no more harm to the uh, to know 1 else. Or to the residents, or to our officers. sure, if you think of police, Evidence that you found. The second caliber. um, ground or something like that. That would indicate that this individual No, no. We're we're going on. What? we've been told and like I say it's a, it is open investigation. I really can't. Elaborate elaborate on that but we have been told that as far as knowing we've not laid hands on him. we've not recovered. no other weapons. Uh that just what we've been told that we're passing on to you. it is open investigation. I really can't elaborate elaborate on that but we have been told that as far as knowing we've not laid hands on him, we've not recovered. No other weapons. Uh that just what we've been told that we're passing on to you, can I ask, what do you Been told by some outside sources that, uh, that he could be on but we're not. revealing that we don't know. We cannot verify that. Like I said, we've not laid eyes on him or contacted him, we don't know. But we have been told and that's the way we're going to treat it, you know? I'm sorry. No, but he's a Yes. AR-15. And how many other weapons? he obtained. a firearm at a, uh, at a, uh, place here in London, but it was obtained, you know, legally, he went through the ATF, he went through all the proper paperwork, and uh, we have, uh, we have the paper, we have that paperwork copies of the receipts. uh, but that was obtained, you know, like, uh, you know if you're not a failing or something, you know, if you can go in, you can fill the paperwork. anyone can purchase the guns. When was that That was yesterday. uh, I think it was at, um, it was after Dark. Right at the edge of dark. the you know, when they you say conclude, you know, it's like last night, you know, at dark. we did conclude, but the KSP had Choppers up with fleas. Uh, we had drones with fleas. you know. Um, But it was right at dark today. I had somebody else, I probably have to answer that. It's huge. and that area, you know, I know you guys have heard all day that, uh, it just really, really rough to rain a lot of cliffs uh, mountains, uh, it, it's really rough Terrain. is but uh, Zoom, I don't know if anybody got a better. There, there's thousands of Acres. I mean I can't tell you exactly how many. they're just thousands of Acres. It's a big area. Very secluded. It's a lot of National forest land. I would say. 150 Plus you know, I mean, I don't know if you can say actively searched and we have a lot of Supervisors. Uh, you know, um that's there but going probably the ground Crews I'd say it would be safe to say, uh, captain. 40 to 50 maybe on. searches, you know, just just a rough estimate. I can't give you an exact number but a large group. Uh, probably going to be meeting in the morning at 0800 and searches will start shortly after that. I have to let somebody else speak on that. He's originally from the Knox Whitley County area, and uh, he's he does have a military background. he served in the National Guard for at least 4 years. and he was a member of the engineer bait. that's the radio, 1 is it? So I'll explain what last night was. So if you are getting off at Exit 49, if you're coming Southbound on the interstate and you look to your right, there's a cliff there. Okay. And that Cliff has a ledge on the top and it has a ledge about 30 feet down. He was on a Ledge about 30 feet down. from the top of that cliff. where he fired from. um, and that's characteristic of that entire area back there. So in order for me to find that this morning, when we located that site, I had to grab a tree and lean over and look so, that's impossible to do in the night time without falling off a cliff. I'm Master Trooper. Scotty Pennington State, please, I'm the public affairs officer here at the London post. Um, first, I want to thank everybody up here the the Sheriff's Department City Police ATF, they have worked tremendously Hard at this effort, and this is why they've asked us to come in and help with the Manhunt. There's no way that they can continue to do this And and, and do it safely. So we've got 16 posts around the state police. And we've requested a troopers from several different posts to come in and help with this. This Manhunt um, Around 1600 hours tonight. Um, Sheriff's requested, the Kentucky State Police to come in. and help with the Manhunt. we uh, activated around 20 to 25 troopers from other posts and our post. and about an hour After that, we went in and searched. A a very when you say large area for walking in a jungle because that's what your base plan. it's a large area. I mean, you actually need em 80s and everything to get through this. ticket. So woods and, you know, you can't do it. very fast because you don't want to leave, no Rock unturned and you don't know if he's in that area. So you got to be very um, slow paced at what you do. so, uh, that's why we brought in all the extra resources. we will. continue to stay in the area. us the Sheriff's department Rockcastle County Sheriff's Department. will be in this area. making sure the citizens of in that community. Um, they feel some some kind of sense of security and safety Um, Just just give us time and hopefully, we can resolve this in a in a timely manner. uh, in a very quick manner. I'm open for any other questions. I hope I answered your question. Well. I mean you need to I your doors. You need to uh if you have security cameras make sure. you're constantly watching them. Um, maybe keep your porch lights on. uh, have communication Have your cell phone and make sure your phones are charged up because you never know when you might have to contact somebody or law enforcement and we want those tips. Like the sheriff said. we want you to call us, don't care if it's a county over, if it's a a Dollar General Store you see somebody walking up down interstate we want you to call us and and we're going to answer those calls. um, no matter if it's a small Road, it's a gravel road. It's a creek bed. It's the interstate we're going to have officers. and Troopers and deputies in this area. until morning. Breaks Do we have any? Um, at this time, I don't know that information. Uh we have there's a lot of smarter people than me behind me in the behind the scenes, working on things. to try to find those answers. If he, maybe he's in been in that area before. And that's technology that that I don't know how to use, but we have we have resources that are trying to help us with that. I don't know what it's about with this yet, uh, that part is still under investigation by the Sheriff's Department. Here. However, this was at random. Was up there. shooting at people. I don't know why anybody would go up there and start shooting at people. I don't I can't get in somebody's brain. or why they do something this this crazy. Um, but it's an act of violence. and you know, innocent people have got hurt and and property damage as well. And you know, for the people of Laurel County and Rock House County, I know they're at fear and, and hopefully, you know we're going to put it to East soon. The office platform here. I'm curious. was, was he on anyone's radar prior to this, this incident Not that I'm aware of, but the sheriff might be able to answer that better than I can. but, no. no sir, no. I have not directly spoke to That is part of the investigation. that that, at this time, we can't discuss, but that we have interviewed. Um, family members um, the sheriff's department has and they're doing a great job with it. Concerned that you don't have. enough manpower. to find this guy. That's That's not my concern. Um, I think we will have plenty of Manpower in, you know, the state police. Um, work in conjunction with the Sheriff's Department. you know, They're they're getting a break, they need a break. when you're out there. and you're away from your families. It's, it's, it's hot. It's cold. You got a lot of emotions going your way from your own loved ones. Um, so sometimes you just need to step back. Go catch a couple hours sleep eat, and and then get back in the fight And um, we're going to take over and help them with that. as long as they want us to well, we have people that are a lot smarter than me, that that do this stuff. Pretty regularly, And, um, you know, we will continue to use helicopters and drones. uh k9's search teams. will bring in fresh Troopers fresh. officers from other agencies and we'll work. together to to, you know. there's a lot of land out there. you know, He explained it. earlier like a jungle, but it's also ATV trails. There's Trails everywhere, back in there. Where, where, um, side besides and 4 wheelers and trucks go and drive. Purchased this weapon yesterday. At what time? I don't have the exact time, we have it. I don't have it with me. Sometime yesterday morning. That's my understanding. Yes sir. it wasn't just the weapon or was it. is the weapon and the about 1,00 rounds ammunition. most of which we have recovered. Thanks, mentioned that. your you guys can bring from search. How do you think he may be survived? We're still trying to ask how much preparation he put into this, We searched his house this evening. Um, we have a lot of stuff from that a lot of uh, devices that we're going to download. that, we're going to crack. We're going to get more information. Um, But we can't rule out the fact that he could have committed suicide back there. And we have not found him yet. Going back to the yet. Going back to his military experience. Was there like an honorable? Just, I don't have that information. out there, Are you worried about? for lasting impacts like schools are already canceled tomorrow. As more time goes on he's not found. But you know what would that look like? I think, at some point we got we're going to do everything we can do to catch this guy or find him. Um, and the longer we can continue and the more area we clear and the more places we are sure. He is not. the safer people are going to feel and I'm, I'm confident eventually we'll figure it out and we'll find him. But at this point, we're doing everything we can to find him at this point. Some sort of. Share what? is? Recorded with law enforcement. it's minimal. my understanding right there. I, I ran a Statewide criminal history on the bait when it it's very minimal. Um, I think there was a a dismissal or 2 a traffic ticket uh I think a domestic violence um within the last 6 months. uh, so I think there's a divorce action that was at some point. Also, um there was nothing. in his criminal history that that made me think Oh, we should have known this was coming. Uh, it's just not there, very minimal. thermal mistake and I saw a So it's kind of listed as a d case if you're looking through court records. Um there was a d case that could been a divorce and for some reason I wanted to think I saw some type of emergency protective work at some point in time. 1 thing that we would. like to reiterate to the public in, uh, London and Laurel County. as the sheriff has said, is, there's multiple agencies on the streets. Um, not only the London city police the law Sheriff's Department. You may see the city police in the county, you may see the county in the city at the state troopers throughout the the community and plus we have other agencies from Mike Williamsburg Jackson County that are assisting and helping Patrol. um throughout the Earth, this the normal Patrols in the, in the county and in the city. So, uh, while we ask people to be vigilant Vigilant throughout Homes or, or about their travels? just rest assured to you have a lot of Emergency services that are on the streets. tonight. And then we'll be uh, continuing tomorrow as well. Uh, far as the schools. we have been in talks with the superintendents in this area. We will continue to update the school systems as we get it from the Laurel County Sheriff's Office. uh and of course, there they are Their priority is to keep our children safe. So, uh, it's going to be according to how the investigation goes leading into tonight. And in tomorrow, Any other question? Uh, we know we have 12 Vehicles hit and multiple rounds in most of those vehicles. and I know from the brass that I saw this morning, 20 to 30 is my best guess but I didn't count them. So that's about as good as I can do. so, yeah, what you got to understand is we have the, the the vehicles, the people that were shot were traveling in, there was also Vehicles hit that were not know, 1 was injured in and some of those Vehicles. Got all the way home before they realized, they had a bullet hole in them. so that number has climbed over the last 24 hours, And we're at about 12 right now. Correct. I know of 5 victims, I know nothing about a car wreck that was unrelated to the shooting. Uh, my name is Michael Stanberry, I'm the special agent in charge for the FBI's Louisville Field office. I just wanted to come up here and say, for a up that we we certainly know that the impact this is having on the community here in Laurel County that people are afraid right now. They certainly have a right to be this thing doesn't happen every day. and you know, when someone's driving down the freeway and and the random shots start coming in, it is terrifying. But law enforcement, the FBI, the ATF and everyone up here is doing everything they can. to 1 solve this investigation to make the case to prove that this individual is the 1 who in fact did this crime, But also to make sure that we apprehend him and get him into custody, and whether that is tomorrow, or tonight, tomorrow, or next week, we are not going to stop on this case until we do find him. And, and we take him into custody, I will say that on the FBI's part. What we are here for is to 1 assist the Lord County Sheriff's Department with the investigation, and 2 also assist. the Kentucky State Police with the apprehension. We have essentially 4 types of elements out right now. First and foremost, we have investigators, We do have an office here in London with investigators. them and along with our agents from the Lexington office have been down here and are working side by side with the Laurel County Sheriff's investigators conducting interviews, collecting evidence. and trying to work, as diligently as they can to, to solve this case. we also have, uh, our evidence recovery team that's been helping the sheriff's department, at the crime scenes, recover, the evidence package it process it. In assisting with the search warrants to make sure we can analyze that and get them everything they need to prosecute. This case, And then next we have a tactical component. our special weapons and tactics team is out actually working with KSP to try and find this individual. This does take specialized training special agents and law Enforcement Officers with the skills and the equipment to Traverse this. We just can't put any agent out there walking through the woods. and and safely trying to apprehend this in this individual. So we're working hard with that. And then finally our victim services division is working with the victims that are in the hospitals around the area working with them and their families trying to do everything we can to support them. So we will be here. and and until this case is until, you know, this individual is in custody, or he's found. So with that is, are there any questions you would have? For me. What, what was the? I think the evidence that that we recovered at the scene, um, pretty much locks that down. Uh, I don't want to go into this the sheriff's set of all the evidence that we've collected because there's a case that if we do catch this individual, that, you know, the Commonwealth Attorney is going to have to prosecute him. So we don't want to obviously try this case in the media, but we do have solid evidence as a sheriff said, his vehicle was at the scene. a firearm that he purchased yesterday. was at the scene. I am confident that his fingerprints will be found on that firearm. His DNA will be found on that firearm and there is other evidence from Mr. Sheriff said, Witnesses, we've talked to about statements, he's made and thinks he said so we we've got the evidence. We Believe to you know, to put forth. that that he did this. So we're pretty confident, we have the right, the right individual. To other people. things he he has said to other people. All I will say, I I don't want to go into the detail of exactly what he said All I will say is statements, he's made interviews People about his state of mind and what he wanted to do. We have interviewed people, we feel pretty confident that this is the individual. but to stay out of the woods for for a while. Is there, is there any? Issue. That I I, I don't know that, uh, you know, I know the information that we have, I don't know that I would want to just give that all out here right now. uh because 1 is, I think you said earlier, He could be watching this right now. and we certainly don't want to tip our hand on everything. um that we're doing and everything that we know about him. it's possible, but I do not know at this time but if he, if he has 1 with him or not, All right, I'm major, Eric Walker. uh, Kentucky State Police. I just wanted to reassure everyone that Kentucky State Police that the request of sheriff route. Has undertaken the steps to move forward with the Manhattan portion of this in conjunction with other tactical resources that we have available through the state and our federal partners. Uh, we have a plan in place that will execute tomorrow uh, not to rehash. uh, uh, citizens of the Commonwealth. Here, in this small cow, can be assured that State Police resources have been brought to bear. uh, there will be routine, Patrols in the area and we have brought uh, ensure that we've got troops from other post areas brought into the area. so, uh, there's adequate manpower to ensure safety in the community. Um, any questions? Thank you. Let me clear something up. I I misspoke earlier and I want to make sure you guys have the accurate information. It was a condition of his bond up to have contact with the victim on a terroristic threatening charge. Uh, that terroristic threat in charge was dismissed, it was not a domestic violence order. So I misspoke on that. but as soon as I step back there, I thought I think I missed that, So I want to clear that up. There's no domestic violence order. uh, in his, in his past that we can see in Kentucky. Hope there was a territory threatening charge that was dismissed in mocks County. Say again. my name is Jackie Steele. I'm going to come with attorney for Laurel and Knox County 27th, judicial circuit. Take that. Take that part, I know there was there's issues that they're talking to some people. I don't I don't think they were married. Um that's why I stepped back. I wanted to check again. So uh, I'm not I'm not going to speak as to, to exactly the territory threatening charges. Underlying, I don't know the facts to that. Um, so I'm not going to speak to the facts but I do know that was conditioned by be contact with the victim. Um, and that's where I I misunderstood it. and just spoke. Any other questions? Yeah. um, that would have been in Knox County this year. Um, if you give me 1 second, I think it was, uh 32624 326. thank Jody. Alright County attorney here. Okay. Yeah, I'm Jody. Alright, the law County attorney. um, I just want to say, to the citizens of of Laurel County surrounding areas. uh, even this morning when we were at church, we saw a, uh, state trooper in our parking lot. There is a greatly increased. law enforcement, uh, presence in in law County. as we speak. Presently. Uh, I also have uh, at the UK game. I was at the UK game. last night or yesterday afternoon, and didn't get the joy of that game for a couple reasons but 1 was that that my phone started blowing up. Um, and it is. amazing. the outpouring of support from different counties. uh my fellow County attorneys Commonwealth attorneys electric officials. I've had contact from Cayo officials. Who have offered support? and wanted me to, uh, when I had a chance and I'll I'll take that chance right now. to encourage our local law enforcement and to thank them for all that they do. So I want to thank each and every 1 of you uh officers and elected officials for all you do and keeping Laurel County safe, um, I understand that, that that people are afraid. I get that. Um, but there are no finer. uh, uh, law enforcement officers and First Responders than there are here in law County. um, and we and we do need to be vigilant. we need to be. You need to be Uh, constantly on the lookout. Uh, and and and and and until this uh passes. But rest assured that that that everything that can be done is being done. Rest assured that once this individual is, uh, captured and taken into custody. um, that he will be prosecuted. Uh and and and I have utmost faith in our Commonwealth Attorney Jackie Steel. uh, in our judicial system that that he will be brought to Justice and Justice will be served. Um, but, please understand that that the what they're talking about. Uh, I as a as a, as a Young Man as a as I was out in that area cromar Ridge area, It is a vast. uh, area. Uh, he he could be there for a long time. if if he's still alive, he could be there for a long time. We don't know. But I but I I have utmost confidence If he if he is in this area, he will be found. and brought to justice. So, um, and and I would also reiterate that anybody has information please, bring that information. forward now? No, no tip is too small. Uh, and please share that you you don't know you that that tip may be uh, the tip that solves the case or brings them to justice. So, uh, any any questions from? I guess for myself or Jackie still on on the legal aspect of this case. Uh, good, thanks. Okay guys, in closing, I just want to reiterate to the residents of this County. that, the you can, see the guys that's representing each agency on this stage. and myself that uh we're get doing everything that we can do. And like I say, just, uh, just be confident and I want to thank the people. for everything from a prayer to we, we've had lunches. We've had water, we've had phone calls. we've had tips and that's exactly what we want you to continue to do. But we are out in full force and, uh, and uh, I'm confident as uh, jail said that this guy will be brought to Justice, and he will be located soon and I