Several people were injured in a shooting that occurred near a highway in Kentucky, according to state authorities in the southeastern United States.

A Kentucky State Police spokesperson Trooper Scottie Pennington said that six people were injured in the shooting but did not provide details on their conditions. The shooting took place in Laurel County, approximately 145 km south of Lexington.

Local authorities said that the suspect appears to be armed and dangerous, and the highway has been closed in both directions.

Shootings are common in the United States, where about one-third of adults own a gun and regulations on purchasing heavy firearms are lax.

Polls show that a majority of voters prefer stricter laws on gun purchases and use. However, powerful pro-gun groups oppose further restrictions, and lawmakers have repeatedly failed to take action.

Source: Qatar News Agency