A massive hunt is underway in the US state of Maine after a man shot and killed at least 16 people in Lewiston city on Wednesday. The shooter attacked unsuspecting people at a restaurant and a bowling alley. The attacker, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card by the police, then fled into the darkness triggering a massive hunt by cops.
Law enforcement officials have said that the toll may rise further, describing it as a 'fluid situation'. many have also been injured in the shooting.
Lewiston, Maine shooting - top points to know
- The US city has been put on lockdown and police have asked residents to stay locked behind doors. Businesses have been ordered shut.
- Hundreds of police officials have been deployed to hunt the shooter. In a bulletin, the police said the shooting started at around 7 pm.
- Card has been described as a person of interest by the police, who said the man is "armed and dangerous". Police said Card was a firearms instructor who is also believed to be in the Army Reserve. he had undergone training at a facility in Saco, Maine.
- The bulletin described Card as a mental health patient who was admitted to a facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. Associated Press reported referring to the document that Card had reported “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” the military base.
- On Facebook, Lewiston Police had earlier posted that the incident took place at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley. The distance between the two scenes of attack was about 4 miles (6.4 kilometres).
- It was reported that many survivors of the shooting were taken on a bus to a middle school in the neighbouring city of Auburn.
- Two pictures of the suspected shooter have been released on Facebook by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office.
- Governor Janet Mills too asked people to take shelter. The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden spoke to Mills over the phone, offering “full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack”.
