Police believe they have found the body of a suspected gunman who went on a rampage on a Kentucky highway nearly two weeks ago, injuring five people.

The body was found during the manhunt in Laurel County along with other items that led police to conclude it was the suspect, Joseph Couch, authorities said at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Officials have been searching for Mr. Couch since September 7, when the 32-year-old allegedly shot at motorists on Interstate 75 before disappearing into the remote area.

Police say they are still working on officially identifying the remains.

According to officials, the body was found shortly after 3:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. CET) when two police officers and two civilians clashed while searching for the suspect.

Both civilians and officials were lured to the area by the vultures flying there.

It is unclear how long the body lay in the wooded area and how the person died, officials said.

They said they are planning an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

An unspecified weapon was also found at the crime scene.

Members of the local community and authorities had searched about 28,000 acres (43 square miles) of the remote and rugged area near the accident site.

“People were scared,” Laurel County Sheriff John Root said Wednesday.

“This is not normal here in Laurel County. Now that this has been discovered, I hope our county can return to normal.”

The area is located about 14 kilometers from the city of London in southeastern Kentucky.

The two civilians who helped find Mr. Couch’s suspected remains are livestream couple Fred and Sheila McCoy.

The couple could receive a total reward of $25,000 (£18,900) for their assistance in their investigation.

During his shooting spree, Mr. Couch is said to have struck a dozen vehicles traveling in both directions on the highway.

While all five victims survived the attack, several suffered serious injuries, including one person who was shot in the face.

Text messages sent by Couch shortly before the shooting indicated he intended to hurt people, officials said last week.

“I’m going to kill a lot of people,” he wrote, according to an affidavit from the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office. “So, at least I’m going to try.”

According to officials, Mr Couch’s family cooperated throughout the search.

In the first few days of the manhunt, schools in the area were closed.