Lewiston shooting – live: At least 22 dead in Maine attacks as police name ‘person of interest’ Robert Card

A manhunt is currently underway to catch the “armed and dangerous” person of interest wanted in connection to two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, that left up to 22 people feared dead.

A gunman opened fire in the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley and then the Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant at around 7pm on Wednesday night.

Terrifying surveillance footage grabs, shared on Facebook by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office, showed the shooter armed with a rifle.

An intensive manhunt is now under way for 40-year-old Robert Card, who has been described as a person of interest in the shootings.

Mr Card is a member of the US Army Reserves and a certified firearms instructor, who officials said had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility and had reported mental health issues, including hearing voices.

His whereabouts are currently unknown though his car – a 2013 white Subaru – has since been located in the town of Lisbon.

Residents in both Lewiston and Lisbon have been urged to shelter in place.

Key points

Up to 22 feared dead as police say death toll is ‘fluid’

Manhunt for Robert Card – ‘person of interest’ in Maine shootings

Robert Card’s ties to US military revealed

Card threatened to shoot up National Guard base and was hearing voices: police

Police release images of suspect brandishing rifle

Residents urged to shelter in place in Lewiston and Lisbon

Maine police expand shelter in place to Bowdoin

JUST NOW: Maine police expand shelter in place to Bowdoin

11:17 , Rachel Sharp

Maine State Police have just now expanded the shelter in place to include the town of Bowdoin.

“We are expanding the shelter in place advisory and school closings to include the town of Bowdoin,” police said in a post on Facebook.

“Please stay inside your homes while more than 100 investigators, both local and federal work to locate Robert Card who is a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings.”

It is not clear what information may have led to this expansion, but Robert Card – the person of interest in the shootings – is believed to live in Bowdoin.

Robert Card’s family reveals shock over Maine mass shooting

11:10 , Rachel Sharp

Robert Card’s family members have revealed their shock that he has been named a person of interest in the mass shootings in Maine.

The 40-year-old’s sister-in-law told The Daily Beast that the family was “shaken” by the news – and that she was speaking to law enforcement about the massacre.

“I am with police right now and my children [are] terrified and shaken, so I do not have a comment on anything right now,” she said.

Police in Maine named Mr Card as a “person of interest” in the shootings and warned that he should be considered “armed and dangerous”, with members of the public urged not to approach him.

Mr Card is a US Army Reservist and a certified firearms instructor, meaning he is well-trained in the use of firearms.

Law enforcement officials said that Mr Card had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco and had reported mental health issues including hearing voices.

He spent two weeks in a mental health facility this summer.

Police appear to hone in on area in Lisbon

10:51 , Rachel Sharp

Police appear to focusing on an area in Lisbon, Maine – where Robert Card’s vehicle was found abandoned on Wednesday night.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, Mollison Way will be closed until further notice. River Rd will be closed from Locust St to South Ave. Residents of River Rd will be allowed into the closed area. Thank you for your cooperation,” Lisbon Police said in a post on X.

The Sun Journal reported that Lisbon PD is recommending residents continue to shelter in place “with an emphasis on residents between Mill Street in Lisbon Center, along the Rt 196 corridor east to Main Street in Lisbon Falls”.

It is not clear if Robert Card is thought to be in that area.

His vehicle was found in Lisbon on Wednesday night.

How many mass shootings have there been in America in 2023?

10:50 , Rachel Sharp

The mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, marks just the latest in a growing number of shootings to rock American communities.

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, this is the 565th mass shooting so far in 2023 – and the 31st mass murder.

Robert Card’s ties to US military revealed

10:30 , Rachel Sharp

The person of interest wanted for the mass shooting that has left 22 people feared dead is an active part of the US military.

Robert Card, 40, is a US Army Reservist and a certified firearms instructor, meaning he is well-trained in the use of firearms.

Law enforcement officials said that Mr Card had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco and had reported mental health issues including hearing voices.

A person of interest identified by police as Robert Card is seen in this handout image (Reuters)

Maine authorities to hold press conference at 10.30am ET

10:10 , Rachel Sharp

Maine authorities have announced that they will be holding a press conference at 10.30am ET on Thursday to provide an update on the mass shooting that rocked Lewiston on Wednesday night.

Maine State Police public information officer Shannon Moss said that the briefing will be held at Lewiston City Hall.

The Independent will bring you the livestream live here and will provide updates as they happen.

Uvalde parents break silence over Maine mass shooting

09:50 , Rachel Sharp

Parents whose children were murdered in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022 have broken their silence as another community has been torn apart by gun violence.

“22 dead so far in Lewiston, Maine. 60 believed to be injured. It’s the f***ing guns! I’m f***ing tired of this insanity! 22 peoples families are utterly destroyed. 60 people and their families lives are forever changed,” Brett Cross, father of Uziyah “Uzi” Garcia, wrote on X on Wednesday night.

Gloria Cazares, the mother of murdered child Jackie Cazares, also took to X to post this message: “Lewiston, Maine I’m sorry we couldn’t prevent the pain, heartache, grief and anger you are about to experience.

“My heart goes out to all the families who have lost a loved one, especially the ones that don’t know yet. Sincerely, a mom of a mass shooting victim.”

Death toll from mass shootings remains ‘fluid’, says officials

09:27 , Rachel Sharp

Up to 22 people are feared dead following mass shootings across two locations in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night.

In a late-night press conference, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck refused to give a specific death toll saying the situation remains “very fluid” at this time.

“This is a very fluid situation,” he said.

“I don’t have firm numbers and when I do, I will be happy to share with you… I don’t think it’s helpful.”

A city councillor told CNN that at least 22 people had been killed while up to 60 others were injured.

A Lewiston police source also initially told NBC News that the death toll stood at 22 – but the outlet later reported that sources had since put the death toll at 15 to 20.

Gun safety advocates lash out over lack of measures in Maine

09:00 , Namita Singh

Maine lacks several major types of gun safety laws, including assault weapons regulation, universal background checks, and “red flag” laws that allow law enforcement to temporarily disarm people legally deemed dangerous, according to Brady, a gun safety advocacy group.

“A recreation center. A bowling alley. A neighborhood bar. Places Americans frequent and should feel safe… these are the crime scenes of multiple shootings tonight in Maine,” said Kris Brown, president of Brady, in a statement.

At a reunification center in Lewiston’s “sister city” Auburn, just across the Androscoggin River, some families were discovering that relatives who had been at the bar and bowling alley had been killed in the shooting, Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque told reporters.

Officials were interviewing witnesses of the shooting “of all ages” at an undisclosed safe location on Wednesday night, Mr Levesque said.

Authorities urge residents to stay in their homes

08:59 , Namita Singh

The Maine police authorities have urged locals to remain inside their homes as the officials scour for the shooting suspect.

“We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate,” the sheriff’s office reported.

“Law enforcement is currently investigating at two locations right now,” Shannon Moss, spokesperson for Maine Department of Public Safety.

“Again please stay off the streets and allow law enforcement to diffuse the situation.”

An order for residents and business owners to stay inside and off the streets of the city of 37,000 was extended on Wednesday night from Lewiston to Lisbon, about eight miles away, after a “vehicle of interest” was found there, authorities said.

‘He was holding a weapon’

08:51 , Namita Singh

Brandon was bowling when he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.

“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon – he was holding a weapon – I just booked it,” he said referring to the shooter.

Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. He was among a busload of survivors who were driven to a school in the neighbouring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.

“I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he said.

Watch:

08:16 , Namita Singh

Robert Card: What we know about the ‘person of interest’ in Maine mass shooting

08:05 , Namita Singh

On Wednesday night the city of Lewiston, Maine, was shaken after a gunman opened fire in several locations. Police scrambled to find the shooter, advising residents and local businesses to lock down immediately.

Maine law enforcement officials later announced that Robert Card, a 40-year-old man, was the “person of interest” in the shootings that claimed dozens of lives at a Lewiston bar and bowling alley.

Here’s what we know so far:

Robert Card: What we know about the ‘person of interest’ in Maine mass shooting

Watch: Mass casualties reported in Maine amid search for shooter

07:34 , Namita Singh

Police scour Maine for man sought in Lewiston mass shootings

07:33 , Namita Singh

Hundreds of police fanned out across the state of Maine hunting for a man wanted in connection with mass shootings at a bar and a bowling alley in the town of Lewiston.Officials said there were multiple casualties but declined to provide figures.

State and local police identified Robert Card, 40, who reportedly had been committed to a mental health facility over the summer, as a person of interest in the case. Earlier, they posted on Facebook photographs of a bearded man in a brown hoodie and jeans at one of the crime scenes, holding what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle in the firing position.

“We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case to locate Mr. Card, who is a person of interest,” Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told a news conference.

Police found a white SUV they believe Mr Card drove to the town of Lisbon, about 11 km to the southeast, and Sauschuck said people were asked to remain indoors in both Lewiston and Lisbon.

Several media reported that a Maine law enforcement bulletin identified Card as a trained firearms instructor and member of the US Army reserve who recently reported that he had mental health issues, including hearing voices. It also said he threatened to shoot up a National Guard base.

“Card was also reported to have been committed to mental health facility for two weeks during summer 2023 and subsequently released,” said the notice from the Maine Information & Analysis Center

In video: At least 22 dead in Maine mass shootings, suspect still at large

07:31 , Namita Singh

At least 22 dead as police hunt gunman in Lewiston

07:14 , Namita Singh

At least 22 people have been killed and up to 60 more injured as police continue the hunt for an active shooter in Lewiston, Maine.

Police have identified 40-year-old Robert Card as a person of interest in the attack, which took place across multiple downtown locations, and said he should be considered “armed and dangerous”.

Hundreds of police are searching the city of Lewiston and surrounding areas of Maine state for the perpetrator of mass shootings at a bar and a bowling alley. President Joe Biden has offered federal support in the wake of the “horrific” attack and spoken to several Maine lawmakers, the White House said.

Read the details here:

Reports of active shooter causing ‘multiple casualties’ at bar in Maine

‘Very trying, emotional time’, says Auburn mayor

07:12 , Namita Singh

“It’s a shock. It’s hard for me to explain,” said Auburn mayor Jason Levesque. “There is a lot of relief and happiness when families are reuniting, but you’re seeing the trauma and the turmoil these witnesses are experiencing.”

His statement comes as number of families reunited at Auburn Middle School in the city located two miles west of Lewiston.

He told CNN early on Thursday that it was “a very trying, emotional time.”

“Auburn and Lewiston are side by side … a river separates us. Combined, our population is around 60,000. You cannot help but know people who know someone, so this will impact every corner of our community,” he told CNN.

The ages of the witnesses at the bowling alley ranged from “12 to 90,” and “everywhere in between”, he said.

Six hours since massacre, shooting suspect still at large

06:45 , Namita Singh

Police are yet to arrest the shooter responsible for killing 22 people in Lewiston, Maine.

Hundreds of police continue to hunt the city of Lewiston and surrounding areas of Maine state for the perpetrator of mass shootings at a bar and a bowling alley six hours ago.

The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8pm as the sheriff’s office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating “two active shooter events.”

Officials issued an update around 10pm for what they described as a manhunt with officials later identifying 40-year-old Robert Card as a person of interest in the shooting.

FBI’s Boston division coordinating with Maine law enforcement

05:37 , Namita Singh

The FBI said its Boston division is coordinating with law enforcement partners in Maine. It stands “ready to assist with any available resources” as it urged the public to remain vigilant.

Police finds ‘vehicle of interest’ in Lisbon, issues ‘shelter in place’ order

05:10 , Namita Singh

Maine State police have issued a shelter-in-place order in Lisbon after they located “a vehicle of interest” in the area.

“We ask anyone who sees anything suspicious to call 911,” the officials said, advising residents against approaching Robert Card, who has been identified as a “person of interest”.

Biden offers ‘any federal assistance he can provide to help people of Maine’

05:09 , Namita Singh

US senator Angus King said that president Joe Biden reached out to him and “offered any federal assistance he can provide to help the people of Maine”.

“Senator King expressed his deep appreciation to the President for the outreach and support,” said a statement issued through his official account on X.

“Given the horrific nature of the event in Maine, Senator King will now be headed to Maine on one of the first flights available – he wants to be home to support Lewiston in any way he can.”

Sheriff confirms 22 killed in Maine shooting

04:50 , Namita Singh

At least 22 people were killed in the shooting incidents in Maine, confirmed Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson to the Sun Journal.

The number of casualties are expected to rise, he said.

Mr Samson told the Bangor Daily News that seven people were found dead at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley on Mollison Way in Lewiston. He added there were an unconfirmed number of people killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street.

‘Hundreds of police officers searching for Card’

04:50 , Namita Singh

Hundreds of police officers searching for Robert Card in Lewiston, Maine shooting, said public safety commissioner

‘In a state of shock’: Witness describe the Maine shooting

04:37 , Namita Singh

Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away around 7pm.

Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building four at a time. Everyone in the bar is safe.“I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe,” Ms Small said.

“But the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb.”

This handout image released on 25 October 2023 by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office (Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Of)

The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8pm as the sheriff’s office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating “two active shooter events.”

Officials issued an update around 10pm for what they described as a manhunt.“Avoid the area until authorities give the all-clear,” the statement said. “Seek alternative routes to circumvent the area and any disruptions. If already operating in the affected region, adhere to all instructions issued by local officials, including the shelter-in-place order.”

“We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate,” the sheriff’s office reported.

What we know about Robert Card? The person of interest in Maine shooting

04:35 , Namita Singh

The man identified as a person of interest in a mass killing in Maine is a firearms instructor trained by the military and was recently committed to a mental health facility, according to a state police bulletin.

The police intelligence bulletin, reviewed by the Associated Press, was being circulated to law enforcement officials on Wednesday night.

A person of interest identified by police as Robert Card is seen in this handout image (Reuters)

The bulletin says the man, Robert Card, had been trained as a firearms instructor at a US Army Reserve training facility in Maine. The document says Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide specific details about his treatment or condition.

The document also said Card had reported hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine.

Card was being sought by police as a person of interest in Wednesday’s shootings. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.

Maine shooting could be deadliest massacre since August 2019

04:33 , Namita Singh

At least 22 people were killed and 50 to 60 wounded on Wednesday in mass shootings at multiple locations including a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, NBC News reported, citing a Lewiston police source.

If the death toll of 22 is confirmed, the massacre would be the deadliest in the United States since at least August 2019, when a gunman opened fire on shoppers at an El Paso Walmart with an AK-47 rifle, killing 23 in a shooting that prosecutors branded an anti-Hispanic hate crime, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The 22 fatalities would also be on par with the number of homicides that normally occur in Maine in any given year. The number of annual homicides in the state has fluctuated between 16 and 29 since 2012, according to Maine State Police.

The number of US shootings in which four or more people were shot has surged since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, with 647 occurring in 2022 and 679 projected to occur in 2023, based on trends as of July, according to data from the archive.

The deadliest US mass shooting on record is the massacre of 58 people by a gunman firing on a Las Vegas country music festival from a high-rise hotel perch in 2017.

‘Armed and dangerous’: Police identifies 40-year-old Robert Card as ‘person of interest’ in Maine shooting

04:06 , Namita Singh

Police have named 40-year-old Robert Card as a person of interest in the Maine shootings in which at least 22 people are reported to have been killed.

Card should be considered “armed and dangerous”, said the Maine state police.

Lewiston mayor comments on shootings

03:46 , Graeme Massie

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said he is “heartbroken for our city and our people” after the shooting that reportedly left 22 people dead.

“Lewiston is known for our strength and grit and we will need both in the days to come,” he said in a statement.

What we know about Lewiston mass shooting

03:45 , Namita Singh

On Wednesday night the city of Lewiston, Maine, was shaken after a gunman opened fire in several locations. Police scrambled to find the suspect, advising residents and local businesses to lock down immediately.

Here is what we know so far.

Mass shooting in Maine: What we know about Lewiston attack

Biden offers federal support in wake of Maine shooting

03:45 , Namita Singh

President Joe Biden has spoken to Maine’s governor and several lawmakers about the shooting in Lewiston.

The White House said he offered full federal support in the wake of the “horrific” attack.

US Senator Angus King comments on shooting

03:38 , Graeme Massie

“Senator King is deeply sad for the city of Lewiston and all those worried about their family, friends and neighbors. He’s receiving regular updates, awaits further details from local authorities, and will be headed directly home to Maine once the Senate’s final vote is held tomorrow afternoon,” his office stated on X.

“Given the shelter in place currently underway, he asks all in Androscoggin County to allow first responders to address the threat, stay indoors, and report any suspicious behavior to the local authorities.”

Joe Biden briefed on Maine mass shooting

03:32 , Graeme Massie

“The President has been briefed on what’s known so far about the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine and will continue to receive updates,” the White House said in a statement on Wednesday night.

Lewiston public schools closed on Thursday

03:25 , Graeme Massie

Public schools in Lewiston will be closed on Thursday following the mass shooting in the Maine city.

“There remains a lot of unknowns at this time. Information moves quickly but not always accurately,” Jake Langlais, the superintendent, said in a message on the district’s website.

“Please continue to shelter in place or get to safety. We will continue to update you with information and next steps as appropriate.”

“Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them. Our prayers go out to those who lost someone tonight,” he added.

Lewiston city councillor confirms 22 dead in mass shooting

03:20 , Graeme Massie

Robert McCarthy appeared on CNN and confirmed the number of victims in the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.

Police issue photo of suspect’s car

03:15 , Graeme Massie

Maine hospital responds to mass casualty event amid shooter manhunt

03:15 , Graeme Massie

Mass shooting almost equals state’s 2022 homicides

03:08 , Graeme Massie

In 2022 Maine recorded 29 murders in total, according to data from the Maine Department of Public Safety. Police sources have said that at least 22 people have been killed in the Lewiston mass shooting.

Images from Lewiston mass shooting

02:59 , Graeme Massie

Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, (AP)

Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, (AP)

Number of dead rises to at least 22: Reports

02:53 , Graeme Massie

NBC News and Fox News both say that at least 22 people have been killed in the Lewiston shooting, according to law enforcement sources.

Mass shooting in Maine: What we know about Lewiston attack

02:52 , Graeme Massie

Dozens of people are believed to have been shot in at least three locations.

Mike Bedigan has the story.

Mass shooting in Maine: What we know about Lewiston attack

At least 16 dead in Maine shooting, reports CNN and ABC News

02:35 , Graeme Massie

At least 16 people are dead in multiple shootings in Lewiston, Maine, multiple law enforcement sources told CNN.

Another 50 to 60 people have also been injured in the Wednesday evening attacks according to the news network.

Maine governor comments on shooting

02:15 , Graeme Massie

“I am aware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston. I urge all people in the area to follow the direction of State and local enforcement. I will continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with public safety officials,” stated governor Janet Mills on X.

Police urge people to keep roads clear

02:03 , Graeme Massie

Nearby city of Auburn warns residents to also shelter in place

01:55 , Graeme Massie

Police release images of suspect brandishing rifle

01:50 , Graeme Massie

Police release images of suspected shooter in Lewiston, Maine (Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff posts picture of shooting suspect

01:29 , Graeme Massie

Reports of active shooter causing ‘multiple casualties’ at bar in Maine

01:25 , Graeme Massie

Reports of active shooter causing ‘multiple casualties’ at bar in Maine

Police hunting active shooter

01:23 , Graeme Massie

Maine shooting

01:22 , Graeme Massie

This is a live blog covering an active shooter situation in the city of Lewiston, Maine.