Lewiston police name person of interest in shootings

Lewiston police name person of interest in shootings

The Lewiston Police Department named Robert Card, 40, as a “person of interest” in the shootings at a bar and a bowling alley tonight.

Card “should be considered armed and dangerous. Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts,” the police department said on Facebook.

Biden pledges full federal support after shooting in Lewiston

Monica Alba

Biden called Gov. Janet Mills and members of Congress about the shooting in Lewiston, a senior White House official said.

Biden called Mills, Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden and offered full federal support in the wake of “this horrific attack,” the official said.

Waiting outside hospital for word about loved ones

A woman outside Central Maine Medical Center was among those waiting to find out what happened to their loved ones after the mass shooting in Lewiston.

“My ex-husband and my son were playing pool at Schemengees,” the woman told NBC affiliate WCSH. She then learned about the shooting on social media but has learned very little since.

She and others went to the hospital. “We’re all waiting, and we’ve heard nothing,” she said.

‘We have everybody on board right now,’ mayor of adjacent Auburn says

The mayor of Auburn, Maine, tonight urged people in his city, Lewiston and the surrounding region to shelter in place and assured them that “we will get this situation settled.”

“We have everybody on board right now, from state, local and federal officials working on this,” Mayor Jason Levesque said on NBC News Now in a phone interview.

The violence in Lewiston is “completely unusual” for Maine and the area, he said. The two cities — Auburn, with a population of around 26,000, and Lewiston, around 35,000 — are separated by a river, Levesque said.

“I can’t go to the grocery store without running into someone who’s complaining about a pothole,” Levesque said.

“It may seem insignificant at this point in time when we’re talking about this situation, but that’s how close this community is,” he said.

Police are said to believe they know identity of shooting suspect

Police believe they know who the shooting suspect is, NBC News chief justice contributor Jonathan Dienst said on-air.

“They believe they have him identified, and they are actively seeking him and the vehicle they believe he’s driving,” Dienst said in an NBC News special report about the shooting.

“They have a pretty good idea who this suspect is,” Dienst said. a source said the person may have a criminal history, he said.

“But as per motive, there is no indication as to why this shooting has taken place,” Dienst said.

Bulletins and briefings to various law enforcement agencies have had different numbers of deaths, he said.

U.S. attorney general is briefed and monitoring

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed and is following developments, a Justice Department spokesperson said.

“The attorney general has been briefed and will continue to closely monitor the situation. Federal law enforcement agencies are assisting our state and local law enforcement partners in Lewiston, Maine,” spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said.

Bates College on lockdown

Bates College, a liberal arts school in Lewiston, is on lockdown right now, according to campus spokeswoman Mary Pols.

She said there have been no reports of gunshots on campus.

Lewiston public schools closed tomorrow

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 alway 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.

Number of dead is almost or more than total homicides in state most years

The believed death toll of 22 in tonight’s shooting is almost or more than the annual number of homicides in all of Maine.

Last year there were 29 homicides in Maine, which has a population of almost 1.4 million, according to statistics from the State Department of Public Safety. In 2020, there were 20.

Recent earlier years had similar numbers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of around the high teens to the low 20s.

Law enforcement trying to ‘eliminate the active killer or killers’, former ATF agent says

“This is a very active and dynamic situation. The image of at least one active killer has been released by police. He is armed with a tactical rifle,” NBC News law enforcement contributor Jim Cavanaugh, a former special agent in the ATF, said in a text message.

“Law Enforcement is now swarming the area attempting to locate, isolate and eliminate the active killer or killers,” he said.

22 dead, dozens wounded in shootings

At least 22 people were killed in the shootings, according to a Lewiston police source.

Fifty to 60 people were wounded after a man fired at several locations, including a Lewiston bowling alley, said four law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.

The officials said the numbers were preliminary and could change.

There were no initial signs of terrorism.

Biden briefed on Maine active shooter incident

Monica Alba

President Joe Biden has been briefed on what’s known so far about the active shooting incident in Lewiston, Maine, and “will continue to receive updates,” a senior White House official said.

He received an initial briefing earlier this evening. He’s currently at the State Dinner with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. 

Police release image of vehicle

Police in Lewiston released a photo of a vehicle they are looking for in the shooting investigation.

Maine senator says he’s ‘deeply sad,’ urges residents to stay indoors

Sen. Angus King of Maine, a political independent who was previously the state’s governor, reacted on X:

Woman told to leave nearby building: ‘We’re cold, we’re worried’

A woman evacuated from a nearby building in Lewiston described “police with long guns running around” at an industrial park where Sparetime Recreation is located.

Mary Ellen Davis said in a phone interview with NBC affiliate WCSH of Portland said that everyone she is with is fine.

“We’re cold, we’re worried,” she said.

Police evacuated her and others from building in the area, she told the station.

ATF Boston agents responding

Agents with the Boston branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are responding to the active shooter event, the field office said on X.

Central Maine Medical Center responding to ‘mass casualty’ event

Central Maine Medical Center, a health care complex in Lewiston, said it was “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event.”

The medical center said it had “no specifics to share on the number of casualties.”

Lewiston police report active shooter incident, identify 2 places

Lewiston police said on social media that they were dealing with an active shooter and identified two businesses.

“We are currently dealing with an active shooter incident (Schemengees and Sparetime Recreation). Please stay off the roads to allow emergency responders access to the hospitals,” police said on Facebook.

NBC affiliate WCSH of Portland, citing a police official, also reported those locations.

Schemengees appears to be a bar and restaurant, and Sparetime Recreation appears to be a bowling center, according to their websites.

City says ‘stay inside with doors locked,’ identifies 3 locations police are investigating

The city of Lewiston issued a shelter-in-place order and identified three areas where police were investigating.

“The target of the manhunt is reportedly connected with shootings that occurred in on Goddard Road, Mollison Way and 500 block of Lincoln Street. Officials say the suspect may be armed,” the city government said in a statement.

The city said people should “stay inside with doors locked” and not approach unfamiliar people.

City of Auburn also tells people to shelter in place

The city of Auburn, which is adjacent to Lewiston, said there is an active shooter incident in Lewiston and told people there to shelter in place.

“ALL Auburn & Lewiston residents are strongly urged to shelter in place, lock all doors & report suspicious individuals and activities to 9-1-1. Most businesses in the area have closed/are closing,” Auburn said on social media.

Gov. Janet Mills says she has been briefed on shooting

Authorities release photo of man with rifle

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released photos of a man with a rifle and said it was “investigating two active shooter events.”

Law enforcement in Maine warns of active shooter, tells people to shelter

Maine State Police said tonight they were investigating an “active shooter” in Lewiston and urged people to shelter in place.

State police and the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office alerted people on social media shortly after 8 p.m.

Further details were not immediately available.