UPDATE 11:40 p.m. ET
By David Sharp
Related Press
LEWISTON, Maine — The person recognized as an individual of curiosity in a mass killing in Maine is a firearms teacher skilled by the navy and was just lately dedicated to a psychological well being facility, in line with a state police bulletin.
An unidentified gunman factors a gun whereas getting into Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Picture/Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP)
The police intelligence bulletin, reviewed by The Related Press, was being circulated to legislation enforcement officers on Wednesday evening after the shootings that left not less than 16 individuals useless.
The bulletin says the person, Robert Card, had been skilled as a firearms teacher at a U.S. Military Reserve coaching facility in Maine. The doc says Card had been dedicated to a psychological well being facility for 2 weeks in the summertime of 2023. It didn’t present particular particulars about his therapy or situation.
The doc additionally stated Card had reported listening to voices and had threatened to hold out a capturing on the navy coaching base in Saco, Maine.
Card was being sought by police as an individual of curiosity in Wednesday’s shootings. A phone quantity listed for Card in public information was not in service.
Lewiston Police confirmed in a Fb put up that Card was an individual of curiosity within the capturing and stated he must be thought-about armed and harmful.
The shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston on Wednesday evening killed not less than 16 individuals and engulfed the state’s second-largest metropolis in chaos. The suspect remained at giant as authorities ordered residents and enterprise homeowners to remain inside and off the streets.
Two legislation enforcement officers advised The Related Press dozens of individuals additionally had been wounded. The officers weren’t approved to publicly talk about particulars of the continued investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity.
Lewiston Police stated in an earlier Fb put up that they had been coping with an energetic shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace launched two images of the suspect on its Fb web page that confirmed a shooter strolling into an institution with a weapon raised to their shoulder.
“Please keep off the roads to permit emergency responders entry to the hospitals,” police stated.
On its web site, Central Maine Medical Heart stated workers had been “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter occasion” and had been coordinating with space hospitals to soak up sufferers. A girl who answered the telephone within the emergency division stated no additional data may very well be launched and that the hospital itself was on lockdown.
Melinda Small, the proprietor of Legends Sports activities Bar and Grill, stated her workers instantly locked their doorways and moved all 25 prospects and staff away from the doorways after a buyer reported listening to concerning the capturing on the bowling alley lower than a quarter-mile away round 7 p.m. Quickly, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer finally escorted everybody out of the constructing 4 at a time. Everybody within the bar is protected.
“I’m actually in a state of shock. I’m blessed that my group responded shortly and everyone seems to be protected,” Small advised The Related Press. “However the identical time, my coronary heart is damaged for this space and for what everyone seems to be coping with. I simply really feel numb.”
The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8 p.m. because the sheriff’s workplace reported that legislation enforcement businesses had been investigating “two energetic shooter occasions.” Officers issued an replace round 10 p.m. on their search.
“Keep away from the world till authorities give the all-clear,” the assertion stated. “Search different routes to bypass the world and any disruptions. If already working within the affected area, adhere to all directions issued by native officers, together with the shelter-in-place order.”
“We’re encouraging all companies to lock down and or shut whereas we examine,” the sheriff’s workplace reported.
A spokesperson for Maine Division of Public Security urged residents to remain of their houses with their doorways locked.
“Legislation enforcement is at present investigating at two areas proper now,” Shannon Moss stated. “Once more please keep off the streets and permit legislation enforcement to diffuse the state of affairs.”
Gov. Janet Mills launched a press release echoing these directions. She stated she has been briefed on the state of affairs and can stay in shut contact with public security officers.
President Joe Biden had spoken by telephone to Mills and the state’s Congress members, providing “full federal assist within the wake of this horrific attack,” a White Home assertion stated.
Native colleges will probably be closed Thursday and folks ought to shelter in place or search security, Superintendent Jake Langlais stated, including: “Keep near your family members. Embrace them.”
Lewiston, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Portland, emerged as a significant heart for African immigration into Maine. The Somali inhabitants, which numbers within the hundreds, has modified the demographics of the as soon as overwhelmingly white mill metropolis into one of the various in northern New Auckland.
Police reply to an energetic shooter state of affairs in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Picture/Robert F. Bukaty)
UPDATE: 10:25 p.m. ET
By David Sharp
Related Press
LEWISTON, Maine — No less than 16 individuals have been killed and dozens of others injured in shootings in Lewiston, Maine, two legislation enforcement officers advised The Related Press.
The shootings occurred Wednesday night at a bar and bowling alley.
The officers weren’t approved to publicly talk about particulars of the continued investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity.
EARLIER REPORTING: 9:32 p.m. ET
LEWISTON, Maine — No less than 10 individuals had been killed Wednesday in shootings in Lewiston, Maine, and the dying toll is predicted to rise, two legislation enforcement officers advised The Related Press.
The officers stated a number of individuals had additionally been wounded. Investigators had been nonetheless processing the crime scenes and dealing to collect proof. Police had been trying to find the person who opened fireplace Wednesday at two areas within the Maine metropolis.
The officers weren’t approved to publicly talk about particulars of the continued investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity.
Lewiston Police stated in an earlier Fb put up that they had been coping with an energetic shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley.
“Please keep off the roads to permit emergency responders entry to the hospitals,” police stated.
On its web site, Central Maine Medical Heart stated workers had been “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter occasion” and had been coordinating with space hospitals to soak up sufferers.
The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8 p.m. because the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace reported that legislation enforcement businesses had been investigating “two energetic shooter occasions.” The sheriff’s workplace stated the suspect was nonetheless at giant.
“We’re encouraging all companies to lock down and or shut whereas we examine,” the sheriff’s workplace reported.
A spokesperson for Maine Division of Public Security urged residents to remain of their houses with their doorways locked.
“Legislation enforcement is at present investigating at two areas proper now,” Shannon Moss stated. “Once more please keep off the streets and permit legislation enforcement to diffuse the state of affairs.”
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace launched two images of the suspect on its Fb web page that confirmed a gunman strolling into an institution with a weapon raised to his shoulder.
Gov. Janet Mills launched a press release echoing these directions. She stated she has been briefed on the state of affairs and can stay in shut contact with public security officers.
Ange Amores, a spokesperson for the town of Lewiston, stated metropolis officers aren’t commenting on the capturing. Amores stated Maine State Police had been planning to carry a information convention, probably at metropolis corridor, to replace the general public on Wednesday evening.
Maine Sen. Angus King, an impartial, stated he was “deeply unhappy for the town of Lewiston and all these nervous about their family, associates and neighbors” and was monitoring the state of affairs. King’s workplace stated the senator can be headed straight residence to Maine as soon as the Senate’s ultimate vote is held Thursday afternoon.
