Mass shooting in Maine: Police ID ‘person of interest’; hospitals work to treat patients

At least 16 people were killed as a result of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, and the suspect was at large.

The Lewiston Police Department has identified 40-year-old Robert Card as a “person of interest” in the shooting investigation, saying he should be considered armed and dangerous. The Facebook post included Card’s driver’s license photo.

Card had been trained as a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Maine, according to an internal police bulletin reviewed by the Associated Press. The bulletin also reported that Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks over the summer, though no details were provided as to the reason or what his treatment involved.

In a news conference Wednesday night, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said the shootings were first reported at 6:56 p.m. local time. He consistently referred to Card as a “person of interest” and not a suspect in the investigation.

“We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case,” he said.

Sauschuck said the shootings caused “multiple casualties” but declined to give a number, citing the fluidity of the investigation.

“There’s been a lot of numbers all over the map all evening,” he said, “and I don’t think that that’s helpful.”

A vehicle of interest in the case was found in Lisbon, Maine, about eight miles southeast of Lewiston.

Around 8 p.m. local time, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office said via the agency’s Facebook page: “law enforcement in Androscoggin County are investigating two active shooter events. We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate.”

About an hour later, the Lewiston Police Department posted on Facebook that it was responding to active-shooter incidents at Schemengees Bar & Grille, a restaurant, and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley. The businesses are about four miles apart.

A local hospital, the Central Maine Medical Center, posted on its website that it was “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and “coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients.”

An unidentified shooter points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, in this image taken from video.

(Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office / Associated Press)

Shortly after, the city agency posted stills of surveillance video of a man holding a rifle and walking into a business. The man has short, dark hair and a beard and is wearing a brown sweatshirt, dark pants and tan shoes. The agency asked the public to contact authorities if they recognize the man by calling (207) 513-3001, Ext. 3227.

Federal law enforcement agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting state and local agencies with the investigation.

Officials for the city of Auburn, Maine, across the Androscoggin River from Lewiston, urged residents to lock down and shelter in place while authorities searched for the shooting suspect.

A reunification center for concerned community members was opened at Auburn Middle School, 38 Falcon Drive, with behavioral health liaisons and counselors on hand.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement shared on social media that she had been briefed on the active-shooter situation.

“I urge all people in the area to follow the direction of State and local enforcement,” Mills said. “I will continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with public safety officials.”

Jake Langlais, superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools, said in a letter on the district’s website that school was canceled Thursday.

“Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them,” the letter said. “Our prayers go out to those who lost someone tonight. Our prayers go out to all those working to stop further loss of life.”

The Lewiston, Maine, Police Department’s Facebook page asks for help identifying this vehicle.

(Lewiston Police Department Facebook page)

Maine State Police said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Lewiston residents should stay inside their homes with the doors locked as they responded to the active shooter, with “multiple locations” under investigation.

Lewiston is the second-most-populous city in Maine, with 37,127 residents, according to the 2020 census. The city of Auburn had 24,060 residents as of 2020 and was the fifth-largest city in the state. The cities are about 35 miles north of Portland, Maine.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.