Lewiston, ME (10/26/2023) – A massive manhunt is underway early Thursday as local, state and federal law enforcement search central Maine for a person of interest after a mass shooting at two locations left a reported 22 people dead.
Maine State Police said Thursday morning that the shelter-in-place advisory and school closures were expanded to include the town of Bowdoin. “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.”
There is a press conference scheduled for 10:30 AM Thursday at Lewiston City Hall.
Few updates were provided overnight though reporters on the ground in Lisbon, where a car police believed Card was driving was found at a boat launch near Route 196, shared videos online of the ongoing search in that area. Lisbon police also asked residents to shelter in place Thursday.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office published a picture of the suspect Wednesday evening. The Lewiston Police Department said they believe Card, who they are describing as a “person of interest,” is a trained firearms instructor in the Army Reserves stationed out of Saco. They noted that Card “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Police also said that Card recently reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, and made threats to shoot the National Guard base in Saco, according to the Sun Journal.
“We have state, local, and federal officials working on this. This is something unusual. This is not something we expect in Maine. Maine is a safe state,” Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque told NBC News. Last year, Maine had a total of 29 homicides.
Describing the communities of Lewiston and Auburn, Levesque said, “This is a very tight community, we know people. For this to happen here and, unfortunately, in both of our cities people are going to be touched, and we are going to know people who have been hurt by this. This will definitely be an event that will be remembered in this area.”
On Wednesday night around 7 PM, law enforcement responded to reports of the shooting at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley on Mollison Way in Lewiston. Shortly after, reports came that there was another active shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille.
Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson confirmed to the Sun Journal that at least 22 people were reported dead, though there remain conflicting news reports over the total number killed. As many as 50-60 additional people are reported injured.
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat who lives in Lewiston, said in a statement, “Like all Mainers, I’m horrified by the events in Lewiston tonight. This is my hometown.”
“Right now, all of us are looking to local law enforcement as they gain control of the situation and gather information,” Golden continued. “Our hearts break for those who are affected and we encourage everyone to follow the directions of the authorities as they conduct their work.”
Other officials expressed their concern, as well.
Gov. Janet Mills issued a statement saying she has been briefed on the situation. “I urge all people in the area to follow the direction of State and local enforcement,” Mills said, adding that she will “continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with public safety officials.”
The White House issued a statement that President Joe Biden has also been briefed. In a statement, Sen. Angus King said Biden “reached out to Senator King directly and offered any federal assistance he can provide to help the people of Maine.” King added that he “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.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division issued a statement that the agency “continues to coordinate with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Maine and we stand ready to assist with any available resources they need, including evidence response, investigative and tactical support, as well as victim assistance.”
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree wrote on X that she is also “closely monitoring the reports of mass shootings in Lewiston. The unfolding violence is shocking and I am holding the affected communities in my prayers.”
State Rep. Adam Lee, a Democrat who lives in neighboring Auburn, wrote on X that he and family “are safe and sheltered in place. Hug your loved ones; pray for the injured; give thanks for the first responders, law enforcement, and hospital staff. Tomorrow and beyond, let’s do what we can to make this never ever happen again.”
Schools across Maine will be closed Thursday.
This story was originally published by Maine Morning Star, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
