The Lewiston Police Department has identified Robert Card as a person of interest in the shootings that transpired in Lewiston.
Card, aged 40, is to be deemed "considered armed and dangerous," as stated in a Facebook post from the Lewiston Police Department. "Kindly notify law enforcement if you possess knowledge regarding his whereabouts," urged the police.
Following two mass shootings on Wednesday night in Lewiston, Maine, officials report a lamentable toll of at least 22 fatalities and numerous injuries. An intensive manhunt is currently in progress for a suspect involved in the shootings, as conveyed by officials and law enforcement sources.
A city administrator affirmed the death toll, stating that 22 individuals had tragically lost their lives, as conveyed by Lewiston City Councilor Robert McCarthy to CNN.
"We encourage all establishments to secure their premises and potentially cease operations during our investigative efforts," declared the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening.
The sheriff's office disseminated images of a "suspect for identification" seen wielding a high-powered assault-style rifle. The shootings, occurring at a bowling alley and a restaurant, initiated a pursuit of a person of interest. As of early Thursday morning, no arrests had been announced, but fifty individuals sustained injuries, not all directly resulting from gunshot wounds, as reported by law enforcement sources to NBC News. Some seemed to have suffered injuries in a tumultuous stampede.
The authorities have refrained from publicly disclosing the death toll; a press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning at Lewiston City Hall. Earlier reports from NBC News and a local police source had cited 22 fatalities and 50-60 injuries.
Around 8 p.m., the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office declared a suspect at large, sharing a photograph of an armed individual entering an establishment. The county issued a shelter-in-place order, specifically for residents of Lewiston, nearby Auburn, and Lisbon, where a vehicle of interest was located amid the search. Residents were asked to shelter in place throughout the night as the search for the assailant continued. Lewiston is situated approximately 36 miles north of Portland and holds the distinction of being the state's second-largest city.
"Kindly remain indoors with securely locked doors," advised state police in a Facebook post. "Report any suspicious activity or individuals promptly by dialing 911."
Initially reported as a separate incident at a Walmart Distribution Center, a company spokesperson informed CNN that none of Walmart’s facilities were involved in the occurrences. Officials in Auburn, Maine, also "strongly urged" residents to shelter in place due to the ongoing active shooter situation, conveyed through a post on X, formerly Twitter. Auburn is situated less than 2 miles west of Lewiston.
In an official statement, the FBI's Boston division disclosed its coordination with law enforcement partners in Maine and expressed readiness to provide assistance with available resources. The public was urged to remain vigilant.
Maine Governor Janet Mills, having been briefed on the situation on Wednesday night, shared her concerns. Scott Sweetow, a former agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, informed NBC10 Boston that the firearm in question appears to be an AR-15 style weapon, a prevalent type of semi-automatic rifle.
"It is equipped with an optic, some form of scope," stated Sweetow. "Additionally, there is a flashlight mounted on the front, a tactical light of sorts. Multiple magazines are affixed together; they seem to be three-round magazines. He is equipped to cause harm."
Shortly before 11 p.m., Lewiston police released a photograph of a person of interest linked to the mass shooting, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card from Bowdoin. He is to be regarded as "armed and dangerous." According to a state police bulletin, Card, a firearms instructor trained by the military, had recently undergone a two-week commitment to a mental health facility in the summer of 2023. Law enforcement officials circulated the bulletin in the aftermath of the tragic events, yet it lacked specific details regarding his treatment or condition.
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