A man opened fire Wednesday night at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, Maine, killing at least 22 people and sending chaos into the state’s second-largest city. Authorities continued to pursue the suspect and urged residents and business owners to stay indoors and off the streets.
A number of individuals were also injured, according to two unnamed law enforcement sources who spoke to The Associated Press, but could not provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
Earlier, Lewiston police posted information on Facebook about an active shooter situation at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley located approximately 4 miles away. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office shared two photos of the suspect on their Facebook page, showing an armed individual entering the business.
“Please stay off the roads to allow emergency responders access to hospitals,” police said.
Central Maine Medical Center said on its website that its staff responded to a mass casualty incident involving a mass shooter and coordinated patient intake with neighboring hospitals. Emergency room staff declined to provide additional information and confirmed the hospital was on lockdown.
Melinda Small, owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, recounted how her team quickly secured their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the entrances when they heard the shooting at a nearby bowling alley around 7 p.m. Police later escorted everyone out of the building and ensured their safety.
“Avoid the area until authorities give the all clear,” the statement said. “Look for alternate routes to bypass the area and any disruptions.” If you are already operating in the affected region, please follow all instructions issued by local officials, including a shelter-in-place order.” “We are asking all businesses to lock down or close during the investigation,” the sheriff’s office said.
Police have identified Robert Card, who was trained as a firearms instructor at a US Army training facility in Maine, as a person of interest. The document says Card was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023.
The document also said Card reported hearing voices and threatening to shoot at a military training base in Saco, Maine. The phone number listed for the card in public records was not in service.
Meanwhile, Maine State Police said in a Facebook post that there is an active shooter in Lewiston, a city of 36,000 35 miles north of Portland.
