Fox news reporting the suspect in the Kentucky I-75 mass shooting sent this disturbing text “I’m going to kill a lot of people” shortly before Saturday’s attack that wounded five people. The manhunt for 32-year-old Joseph Couch, who served in the Army Reserve for over five years, is entering its fourth day.
He also sent another message that read, “I’ll kill myself afterwards.”
Officials say their goal is to “apply steady pressure at wearing Mr. Couch down” as they continue their search in and around the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Couch faces 5 counts of attempted murder and 5 counts of first-degree assault. There’s a $15,000 collective reward for information that leads to his arrest.
All five victims who were seriously wounded are expected to recover.
UNION COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a Maynardville woman.
In August, at the request of 8th Judicial District Attorney General Jared Effler, TBI agents began investigating allegations of misconduct involving an employee with the Union County Clerk’s Office. During the investigation, agents learned that Whitney Goins (DOB: 9/3/86), while employed at the clerk’s office, fraudulently used a credit card she obtained from a citizen. Goins was terminated from the clerk’s office last month.
On Friday, a Union County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Goins with one count of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and one count of Official Misconduct. Today, she was arrested and booked into the Union County Jail on a $2,500 bond.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says an investigation has revealed a juvenile making a threat of possible school shootings that would happen today (Tuesday) is a hoax.
JCSO says Jefferson County Schools administrators and SROs began investigating the threat, which involved a possible school shooting that would happen at two schools in Jefferson County, after it was found on TikTok.
Officials with the School Safety Division and the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security found the post last (Monday) night and revealed that the entire threat was created by a juvenile and deemed a hoax.
The investigation’s findings will now be sent to school administrators and the Attorney General’s Office.
JSCO says Jefferson County Schools and their Office will always take all threats seriously and investigate them to the fullest.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office, along with various other agencies, has responded to Sunnyview Elementary School in East Knox County.
KCSO officials, in a release to media this (Monday) afternoon just before 3:30, say a child told a teacher they thought they saw someone in the woods near the playground.
As a precaution, KCSO dispatched several units to the school and also deployed AirWatch.
Additionally, officials say KPD and THP also sent units to the scene.
At this time, no one has been located. The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution.
According to a representative with KCSO, a child told a teacher they thought they had seen someone in a wooded area near the school’s playground. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 12:12 p.m.: Two people are dead and an investigation is underway following a crash Monday morning on I-40 East in West Knoxville.
Knoxville Police Department officials say the single-vehicle crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. near the I-640 East ramp.
KPD says evidence from the scene indicates the involved vehicle was traveling east on the I-40 ramp to I-640 when it ran off the road to the right for reasons that remain unknown, striking a guardrail.
The two occupants, identified as Florida residents, were pronounced dead at the scene.
UPDATE: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville. The I-40 East ramp to I-640 East has reportedly reopened following this morning’s crash.
ORIGINAL STORY: An investigation is underway after two people are killed in a single vehicle crash on I 40 in West Knoxville.
As of 11 a.m., the I-40 East ramp to I-640 East is closed temporarily as KPD crash reconstruction personnel remain on scene of this morning’s (Monday) crash. The right lane and shoulder are also blocked.
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) -While the leading cause of death in men is heart disease, the second is prostate cancer. With September being National Prostate Awareness Month, Eddie Check is working to raise awareness.
Eddie Check is a non-profit organization based out of Knoxville that works to educate East Tennessee men on the importance of regular testing for prostate cancer.
A PSA test is a simple blood test that checks PSA levels in the blood. If the PSA is elevated, it could indicate that something is wrong with the prostate.
Every year, Eddie Check partners with MEDIC Regional Blood Center to host events across East Tennessee for men to get free testing and donate blood for MEDIC.
“Men don’t have to donate blood to MEDIC to get the PSA test, but we hope that they do because that also saves lives,” Eddie Check founder Kevin Kirkland said. “So really the blood donation can save up to three lives and the PSA test can save theirs.”
Last year, the event allowed for more than 700 men to get tested and 600 pints of blood donated.
While HIPAA makes it difficult to get an exact number, Kirkland said the testing they do has already saved dozens of lives.
Kirkland founded Eddie Check because of his father Eddie who passed due to prostate cancer.
“[Back then,] once you found out you had prostate cancer, normally it was too late,” Kirkland said. “He died within two years of that fact that he found out he had prostate cancer. I always told myself when I had the means and the wherewithal I would do an event that would help men with understanding prostate health and prostate cancer and the fact that it’s really not a death sentence.”
Eddie Check is hosting their annual event on Sept. 12 and 13 across East Tennessee. Locations for the event can be found here.
A man hunt is underway after nine cars are shot into on I-75 in London, Kentucky.
The interstate was shut down Saturday night after shots were fired into the vehicles on both the north and southbound lanes.
Five victims were seriously injured and there is no word on their condition.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office says they are searching for a person of interest, 32-year-old Joseph Couch. As of yesterday (Sunday morning), the search for Couch is ongoing.
Police say do not approach Couch as he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information regarding Couch’s whereabouts is asked to contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center by calling 911 or 606-878-7000.
CARTER COUNTY – An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Division, Adult Protective Services, and the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging into reports of the abuse and sexual exploitation of a vulnerable adult has resulted in an arrest.
In August, after receiving a referral from Adult Protective Services, TBI special agents began investigating allegations of sexual exploitation involving a physically and intellectually disabled adult male in Carter County. During the investigation, agents learned that Selena Catherine Silver (DOB: 5/12/68), who was employed as a caregiver at the time, began a sexual relationship with the victim and provided him with controlled substances and other illicit drugs.
Today, agents obtained an arrest warrant for Silver, charging her with Abuse of a Vulnerable Adult, Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, Sexual Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, and Stalking. She was arrested and booked into the Carter County Jail on a $10,00 bond.
The charges and allegations referenced in this release are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
NOTE: The TBI’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $8,983,614.75 for federal Fiscal Year 2023-2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,994,538.25 for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, is funded by the State of Tennessee.
KNOXVILLE —The John Sevier Hunter Education Center in Knoxville is hosting the 3rd annual Kickoff to Hunting Season event on Saturday, October 5 from 9 am to 1 pm. The event is geared towards getting hunters ready for the fall hunting season. Everyone is welcome, whether experienced hunters or those new to the sport and wanting to learn. The event also welcomes and encourages families to attend. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from TWRA staff and experienced hunters with tips on how to prepare for hunting this fall. Those attending are also welcome to bring one firearm and one bow for sighting in and practice.
The class includes:
A session on hunting Tennessee’s public lands and how to access them utilizing new technology such as some of the newest hunting apps.
A Q&A session with local TWRA officers who will discuss any new changes to Tennessee’s hunting laws and answer any questions the public may have.
A session on how to use some of the newest hunting equipment like tree saddle hunting and expert advice on hunting techniques.
Official Boone and Crockett scorers will be onsite to discuss how to score white-tailed deer. Attendees are allowed to bring ONE deer head per person to have it officially scored.
The 100 yd benchrest rifle range will be open and hunters may bring ONE hunting rifle, either a centerfire or a muzzleloader, to sight-in.
Archery pro-staff will be onsite to provide technical assistance to bowhunters who need bow tuning or help with their archery gear. No broad heads allowed; field tips only.
Range Safety Officers will be present to assist with the sighting-in process if help is needed.
TWRA flurry machine to enjoy shooting clays thrown in multiple directions. The cost of admission is $8.00, which is the type 222 range daily permit. The admission fee will be waived for sportsmen license holders and those holding appropriate big game hunting licenses. All ranges will be staffed by certified Range Safety Officers to ensure safety. For any further assistance or questions, contact John Sevier Range Manager Chad Gann at 865-594-6279. Seating is limited to 50 participants.
