Kentucky shooter at large after wounding at least seven along highway

Kentucky police were searching rugged terrain near a national forest for a suspect after gunfire injured at least seven people driving along a rural stretch of Interstate 75, officials reported on Saturday evening.

The incident began shortly before 6 p.m. (10:00 GMT) about nine miles from the town of London, when officers were dispatched in response to reports of shots fired at vehicles traveling on the highway in Laurel County. The gunfire reportedly originated from a wooded area or an overpass.

Mayor Randall Weddle of London, a small city located near the Daniel Boone National Forest, stated on Facebook that seven individuals were injured, including some who were shot. No fatalities have been reported, and police have not provided additional details about the victims' conditions.

Weddle urged residents to "keep your doors locked while this suspect is on the loose."

This shooting follows a recent tragedy in Winder, Georgia, where a high school shooting resulted in the deaths of two students and two teachers, with nine others injured. A 14-year-old student and his father, suspected of providing the gun used in the attack, have been charged in connection with the incident.

The highway section affected by the Kentucky shooting was initially closed but has since reopened, although the suspect remains at large.

Approximately three hours after the shooting, the Laurel County Sheriff's Office identified a "person of interest" described as "armed and dangerous," urging the public not to approach the 32-year-old man.

"The suspect has not been apprehended, and we advise everyone to stay indoors," wrote Trooper Scottie Pennington of the Kentucky State Police on Facebook.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has joined the state police and local law enforcement in the investigation, with the federal agency calling it a "critical incident" on social media.