(LEWISTON, Maine) — At least 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday evening, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said. Thirteen others are injured.
The suspect, Robert Card, is still at large and has been on the run for hours, law enforcement said.
The shooting unfolded in multiple locations, including a bowling alley where a children’s league was taking place and a local bar, officials said.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 26, 11:02 AM EDT
7 killed at bowling alley, 8 at bar
Seven people were killed at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley: one female and six males, authorities said.
Eight people were shot and killed at Schemengees Bar and Grille: seven males inside and one male outside, police said.
Three people died at the hospital, police said.
The suspect, Robert Card, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said. A murder warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Oct 26, 10:53 AM EDT
‘One of the safest states in the nation’
“No words can truly or fully measure the grief,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said at a news conference Thursday.
“Our small state of just 1.3 million people has long been known as one of the safest states in the nation,” she said. “This attack strikes at the very heart of who we are and the values we hold dear for this precious place we call home. All Maine people are sharing in the sorrow of the families who lost loved ones last night.”
Oct 26, 10:47 AM EDT
Deadliest shooting of the year
The U.S. has had at least 565 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings are defined as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, according to the archive.
Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which claimed at least 18 lives, is the deadliest shooting of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Oct 26, 10:41 AM EDT
WH spokesperson: Biden grieving, says more needs to be done
President Joe Biden in grieving the loss of life in Maine and is praying for the injured, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told MSNBC.
Kirby urged Congress to do more to ban semi-automatic rifles, which he called weapons of war allowed on the streets, and said that Biden’s recent legislation, the Safer Communities Act, was a start — but not enough.
The Safer Communities Act included incentives for states to pass red flag laws, closed the so-called boyfriend loophole and created an enhanced background check process for people under 21 who are looking to buy firearms from licensed dealers. Biden himself, while signing the bill, said it wasn’t everything he wanted but was a start.
Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the Maine victims.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, “I am heartbroken for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have been injured, and for the entire Lewiston community.”
“The FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals are on the ground to provide investigative support and victims assistance services to our law enforcement partners in Maine,” he said. “No community should have to endure the horrific mass shootings that have become routine in our country.”
Oct 26, 10:18 AM EDT
Person of interest has been Army reservist for 2 decades
The person of interest in the Maine mass shooting, Robert Card, has been an Army reservist since December 2002, the Army said.
He has no combat deployments, the Army said.
His current rank is sergeant first class. His job is listed as petroleum supply specialist.
Oct 26, 10:02 AM EDT
Lisbon police chief: No tip is too small
The police chief in Lisbon, Maine, told reporters Thursday that no tip is too small in the hunt for Robert Carr, the person of interest in the Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting.
Lisbon police chief: ‘No tip is too small’
Lisbon borders Lewiston and is where authorities are searching for the person of interest.
The white Subaru believed to be linked to the person of interest was found in Lisbon.
“If you see something in Lisbon, that is suspicious, I want you to call,” Chief Ryan McGee said.
The chief said that police had responses from agencies all across the state and their federal partners.
He said he sent every one of his available officers to the neighboring community before the situation came to Lisbon.
ABC News’ Luke Barr
Oct 26, 9:40 AM EDT
Deadliest shooting of the year
The U.S. has had at least 565 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings are defined as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, according to the archive.
Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which claimed at least 16 lives, is the deadliest shooting of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Oct 26, 9:37 AM EDT
WH spokesperson: Biden grieving, says more needs to be done
President Joe Biden in grieving the loss of life in Maine and is praying for the injured, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told MSNBC.
Kirby urged Congress to do more to ban semi-automatic rifles, which he called weapons of war allowed on the streets, and said that Biden’s recent legislation, the Safer Communities Act, was a start — but not enough.
The Safer Communities Act included incentives for states to pass red flag laws, closed the so-called boyfriend loophole and created an enhanced background check process for people under 21 who are looking to buy firearms from licensed dealers. Biden himself, while signing the bill, said it wasn’t everything he wanted but was a start.
Oct 26, 8:07 AM EDT
Lewiston, Lisbon municipal offices closed Thursday
Municipal offices in Lewiston and Lisbon, Maine, will be closed on Thursday, officials said.
In Lewiston, where the mass shooting occurred, officials said they would also close the library and cancel all events, including early voting, at city buildings.
“Non-emergency personnel should stay at home tomorrow too,” the city said in a social media post.
The nearby town of Lisbon, where police sources said the person of interest’s Subaru had been traced, also closed municipal buildings on Thursday.
“Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place,” Lisbon officials said in a notice on the town website.
Oct 26, 7:10 AM EDT
Witnesses describe terrifying moments after gunman opened fire
At least 16 people are believed to be dead and dozens more have been injured after a bowling alley came under fire in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday evening — the deadliest of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Riley Dumont said she heard a loud bang after which her father, a retired cop, corralled them into a corner and put protection in front of them including “tables and a big bench that the kids were hiding behind.”
“I was laying on top of my daughter. My mother was laying on top of me,” said Riley Dumont.
“It felt like it lasted a lifetime,” she added. “I just remember people sobbing and crying.”
Another witness at the bowling alley, whose name is Brandon, but whose last name was not made available, described hearing a “loud pop.”
“Thought it was a balloon,” Brandon said. “I had my back turned to the door. As soon as I turned and saw that it was not a balloon, he was holding a weapon. I just bucked it down the lane and I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up to the machine and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes until the cops got there.”
Meghan Hutchinson, another shooting witness, said “We were very scared and we didn’t know, like, we didn’t know what to do, what to expect from this. You know, nothing like this has ever happened here before. We barricaded in there and another parent was in the room with me. She had a phone and she called 911.”
And Zoe Levesque was grazed by a bullet.
“I never thought I’d grow up and get a bullet in my leg,” said Levesque. “Like, why do people do this? I was more worried about, like, am I going to live and I going to make it out of here. Like, what’s going to happen? Are the cops going to come?”
Oct 26, 6:20 AM EDT
Shelter in place advisory expanded to Bowdoin
“We are expanding the shelter in place advisory and school closings 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,” Maine State Police said in a post on social media.
A news conference is scheduled at 10:30 am today at Lewiston City Hall.
Oct 26, 3:19 AM EDT
Maine State Police to give briefing Thursday morning
ABC News has learned that Maine State Police plan on briefing the media at 10:30 a.m. ET on the mass shooting in Lewiston.
Oct 26, 2:52 AM EDT
Lewiston, Lisbon municipal offices closed Thursday
Municipal offices in Lewiston and Lisbon, Maine, will be closed on Thursday, officials said.
In Lewiston, where the mass shooting occurred, officials said they would also close the library and cancel all events, including early voting, at city buildings.
“Non-emergency personnel should stay at home tomorrow too,” the city said in a social media post.
The nearby town of Lisbon, where police sources said the person of interest’s Subaru had been traced, also closed municipal buildings on Thursday.
“Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place,” Lisbon officials said in a notice on the town website.
Oct 26, 2:01 AM EDT
Maine shooting is ‘worst mass shooting’ of 2023, says gun violence nonprofit
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night is already the deadliest shooting of the year.
At least 20 people are believed to be dead from the shooting with dozens more injured.
The suspect has been on the run for hours.
This is the 565th mass shooting of 2023 and the 31st mass murder, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Oct 26, 5:50 AM EDT
Family hides at bowling alley
Riley Dumont said her 11-year-old daughter was bowling in a children’s bowling league when she heard several shots.
Dumont’s father, a retired police officer, then corralled their family into a corner.
“I was laying on top of my daughter. My mother was laying on top of me,” Dumont told ABC News.
Dumont said she saw three or four apparent victims.
Oct 25, 11:05 PM EDT
Person of interest identified
Lewiston police have identified a person of interest as Robert Card.
Oct 25, 11:45 PM EDT
Person of interest served in military, is a firearms instructor: Sources
Police in Maine have identified a person of interest in the shooting, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
The person of interest has a history of military service and is a firearms instructor, the sources said.
The sources said he also has a mental health history, including a two-week stay this summer at a mental health facility after he allegedly made threats about carrying out a shooting at a National Guard facility.
Authorities have traced his white Subaru to a location in Lisbon, Maine, sources said.
Oct 25, 10:36 PM EDT
Manhunt underway in Maine
The Lewiston Police Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for the city. Residents are urged to stay inside with their doors locked.
The FBI is sending in aviation units to help in the search for the gunman. New Hampshire police are putting up roadblocks to try to confine the gunman if he’s on the run.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement, “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.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said New Hampshire “officials have been in touch with our counterparts in Maine to offer and provide any medical and safety resources needed as they manage this horrific situation. Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Maine.”
President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Gov. Mills, Maine Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and “offered full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack,” according to the White House.
Oct 25, 10:22 PM EDT
Mayor is ‘heartbroken’
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said in a statement, “I am heartbroken for our city and our people. Lewiston is known for our strength and grit and we will need both in the days to come.”
Lewiston is about 35 miles north of Portland, Maine.
A nurse at Maine Medical told ABC News the shooting unfolded at a bowling alley during its youth night.
“Maine Medical is on lockdown right now awaiting Lewiston patients,” the nurse said. “They just called for [emergency department] nurses and critical care nurses to come in [and] set up three stretchers to each single critical care bay. They just got their first two patients — both gunshot wounds to their thighs.”
Copyright © 2023, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
