LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — The Lewiston Maine Police are looking for Robert Card who is a person of interest regarding the mass shooting at Schemengees Bar and Sparetime Recreation this evening.
A bulletin put out by the Maine Information and Analysis Center, a database for law enforcement officials, said that Card was a trained firearms instructor and believed to be in the Army Reserve.
It added that law enforcement said Card “recently reported mental health issues to include hearing voices and threats to shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco, ME.” The bulletin said Card was reported to have been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this summer and then released.
It has been reported that the shooter has went to multiple locations, killing 22 and leaving over 50 people injured.
Police believe that they may know who the shooting suspect is. NBC News chief justice contributor Jonathan Dienst said, “They believe they have him identified and they are actively seeking him and the vehicle they believe he’s driving.”
The officials said the numbers were preliminary and could change. The man is still out on the loose and are actively searching for him. The suspect has visited the Lewiston bowling alley and several other locations.
Maine State Police ordered residents in the state’s second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night because of an active shooter situation.
Public schools in Lewiston will be closed tomorrow, the district’s superintendent announced, “There remains a lot of unknowns at this time. Information moves quickly but not always accurately,” Jake Langlais, the superintendent, said in a message on the district’s website. “Please continue to shelter in place or get to safety. We will continue to update you with information and next steps as appropriate.”
“Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them. Our prayers go out to those who lost someone tonight,” he added.
The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8 p.m. as the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating “two active shooter events.” The sheriff’s office said the suspect was still at large.
“We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate,” the sheriff’s office reported.
A spokesperson for Maine Department of Public Safety urged residents to stay in their homes with their doors locked.
“Law enforcement is currently investigating at two locations right now,” Shannon Moss said. “Again please stay off the streets and allow law enforcement to diffuse the situation.”
Gov. Janet Mills released a statement echoing those instructions. She said she has been briefed on the situation and will remain in close contact with public safety officials.
The Sun Journal newspaper reported that police, fire and rescue personnel converged on Sparetime Recreation before reports of a second location at a bar and grill.
