Neighbors of the Kentucky man who allegedly shot 5 folks at random on Interstate 75 over the weekend and is now the topic of a multi-agency manhunt say the suspect, 32-year-old Joseph Sofa, had beforehand pointed his rifle at them, acted erratically and even appeared to stroll in circles outdoor whereas holding a rifle at a property the place he lived.
Sofa was arrested at that residence in Grey, Kentucky, again on Feb. 8 on a cost of terroristic threatening, third diploma. In line with a uniform quotation by Kentucky State Police, obtained by CBS Information, the house is situated about 20 miles south of Exit 49 on I-75, the place the taking pictures occurred.
The quotation was filed after a neighbor known as police. That neighbor informed CBS Information that Sofa threw a rock on the household’s canine, and when he confronted Sofa about it, Sofa allegedly pointed a loaded AR-style rifle at him and his 9-year-old little one.
“He went in his home, grabbed an AR-15, pointed it at mine and my daughter’s route, mentioned subsequent time he would shoot me and my daughter,” the neighbor mentioned. “So, naturally, I went and filed expenses on him.”
The neighbor didn’t wish to be recognized by title. The costs had been ultimately dropped after he failed to point out as much as courtroom listening to.
“They dismissed it as a result of they by no means notified me that there was a courtroom date,” he mentioned, including that he mentioned he believes authorities ought to have taken Sofa’s weapons away.
“He is threatened multiple individual with a firearm on this neighborhood,” he mentioned.
Following the incident, he mentioned three household canine had been discovered lifeless on his property; two had been poisoned.
One other neighbor, Donald Causey, 61, mentioned he had a superb relationship with Sofa till earlier this 12 months when his demeanor appeared to vary. Causey mentioned issues escalated final week when Sofa allegedly pulled a rifle on Causey for strolling close to his property.
“He went again in his home, and he got here again out and he pointed his rifle and mentioned ‘I am going to simply kill you,'” Causey mentioned.
Causey says he didn’t contact police, because the two had gotten alongside previously, however now regrets not doing so given the I-75 taking pictures.
“This spring we acquired an extended nice — I let him borrow my garden mower a pair instances,” he mentioned, including that one thing appeared to vary and Sofa gave the impression to be struggling along with his psychological well being. “When you discuss to him 15 seconds you possibly can inform.”
At one level throughout their latest encounter, Causey mentioned he went residence to deescalate issues however Sofa got here again out along with his rifle.
“He put it up on his shoulder like he was marching, and he went round his home about 50 instances in a circle,” Causey mentioned. “…He simply began marching like he by no means spoke to us or nothing.”
In line with an arrest warrant obtained by CBS Information, simply minutes previous to the I-75 taking pictures on Saturday, police say Sofa despatched a textual content message saying “I will kill lots of people. Nicely attempt no less than,” and one other message saying “I am going to kill myself afterwards.” The affidavit mentioned that the lady who acquired the textual content messages known as a dispatcher to report them.
Sofa is charged with 5 counts every of legal try to commit homicide and first-degree assault for the shootings, which wounded 5 folks.
Since Saturday, searchers have been combing via hundreds of acres searching for Sofa in a rugged space of southeast Kentucky, together with in and across the Daniel Boone Nationwide Forest.
Officers are providing a $25,000 reward for info resulting in his arrest.