(LEWISTON, MAINE) — At least 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday evening, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said. Thirteen others are injured.
The suspect, Robert Card, is still at large.
The shooting unfolded in two locations: a bowling alley where a children’s league was taking place and a local bar, officials said.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Oct 27, 7:34 AM EDT
What we know about suspect Robert Card
A manhunt is now into its second day for Robert Card, the suspect in a mass shooting in Maine that killed at least 18 people and wounded 13 others, officials said.
The suspected gunman — identified as 40-year-old Robert Card — is a U.S. Army reservist, the Army confirmed.
Card’s family is cooperating with authorities, law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told ABC News. Card’s sister told investigators she thought Card might have been looking for an ex-girlfriend at the shooting locations, the sources said. One avenue of investigation is whether this mass shooting began as a domestic dispute, according to the sources.
Card was previously married. His ex-wife filed for the divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, which was granted in 2007 with shared custody of the couple’s minor child, court documents show. The divorce order was amended in 2013 to include shared parental rights and responsibilities of the child, whose primary residence was with his mother, the documents show.
The suspect appears to have “interacted with conspiratorial content” online, information provided to law enforcement shows.
Topics he engaged with included but were not limited to: concerns about a financial crisis/stock market, LGBTQ+ issues, gun rights and commentary about Democratic public officials, including President Joe Biden, the information shows.
Card has been a U.S. Army reservist since December 2002, the Army said. His current rank is as a sergeant first class and his job is a petroleum supply specialist. He has no combat deployments.
Oct 26, 9:55 PM EDT
Card had affiliations at both targeted locations: Sources
A law enforcement source with direct knowledge tells ABC News that Robert Card had affiliations with the two locations he allegedly targeted.
An ex-girlfriend is connected to one of the locations. According to the source, “We don’t think this was completely random.”
The suspect also appears to have been fairly thoughtful about eluding police. He left behind a cellphone that authorities have recovered apparently suspecting it could be tracked.
-ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
Oct 26, 9:36 PM EDT
Search at home tied to suspect winds down
A large number of police vehicles that had surrounded a property tied to suspect Robert Card on Thursday have departed.
The search at this location seems to have gone quiet with most of the authorities having left the scene.
A source familiar with the search in Bowdoin tells ABC News there is no expectation the suspect will be apprehended at that location tonight.
The source said this search and the dramatic accompaniments were part of standard procedure for safely carrying out a search warrant.
Police will be doing this repeatedly as they work to retrieve evidence. They say they’re being thorough by tracking down every lead.
Oct 26, 8:22 PM EDT
Suspect consumed ‘conspiratorial’ content online, investigation finds
Information provided to law enforcement shows that Robert Card appears to have “interacted with conspiratorial content” online.
Topics he engaged with included, but were not limited to, concerns about a financial crisis/stock market, LGBTQ+ issues, gun rights and commentary about Democratic public officials, including President Joe Biden.
It remains unknown whether any of his social media usage played any role in the suspect’s decision to go on his rampage Wednesday night.
Law enforcement has not determined the motive, but they are looking into several aspects of the suspect’s life, including his writings and history of mental health problems.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin
Oct 26, 5:25 PM EDT
Number of casualties for hospital was a ‘challenge’ officials say
Dr. John Alexander, the chief medical officer of the Central Maine Medical Center, which admitted 14 victims from Wednesday’s mass shooting, spoke with ABC News’ Trevor Ault about the scramble his physicians made to treat the patients.
Three of the patients died and another three are in critical condition as of Thursday evening.
Alexander said although the team is trained to deal with mass casualty events, the number of casualties was a challenge for the hospital.
“It certainly is unprecedented so far as the severity of the injuries and certainly the attack on the community,” he said.
At least 30 to 40 employees who were not on shift last night were voluntarily standing by to assist fellow staffers working around the clock to care for victims, according to Alexander.
He said the hospital is providing 24-hour mental health resources for staffers in need.
-ABC News’ Briana Stewart
Oct 26, 4:19 PM EDT
Note found at suspect’s home: Sources
Investigators found a note at the home of mass shooting suspect Robert Card, law enforcement sources familiar with the case told ABC News.
The sources declined to describe the contents of the note, its length or its relevance to the investigation.
Oct 26, 4:02 PM EDT
Gun recovered from suspect’s car: Sources
Investigators recovered a gun from the abandoned car of mass shooting suspect Robert Card, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Card’s white Subaru was found Wednesday night.
Authorities are testing and tracing the gun to determine if it was involved in the shooting, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
Card may have access to other firearms. Sources said law enforcement is treating him as though he is armed and dangerous.
-ABC News’ Luke Barr
Oct 26, 3:24 PM EDT
Suspect’s sister says he may have been looking for his ex: Law enforcement officials
The family of mass shooting suspect Robert Card is cooperating with authorities, law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told ABC News.
The family is laying out an account of a deeply troubled person, the sources said, bolstering earlier accounts of mental health treatment, voices in his head and alleged threats to shoot up a National Guard facility.
Card’s sister told investigators she thought Card might have been looking for an ex-girlfriend at the shooting locations: a bowling alley and a bar, the sources said.
Oct 26, 3:09 PM EDT
Coast Guard searching Kennebec River
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching the Kennebec River in Maine for any sign of the mass shooting suspect, Robert Card.
Card owns a boat and property in the Lewiston area, according to a source briefed on the situation.
“Currently, one response boat crew from Station Boothbay Harbor, and an Air Station Cape Cod HC-144 fixed wing aircraft are assisting with patrols,” Coast Guard spokesperson Rob Simpson said in a statement.
Oct 26, 2:55 PM EDT
Suspect was behaving erratically this summer during Army service
Maine mass shooting suspect Robert Card allegedly behaved erratically this summer while serving as an Army reservist, according to a defense official.
Card was deployed to Camp Smith Training Center in upstate New York to help support summer training for West Point cadets.
Card allegedly threatened other soldiers with violence, according to a source briefed on the situation.
“Out of concern for his safety, the unit requested that law enforcement be contacted,” the defense official said. Police took Card to Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy for a medical evaluation, the official said.
Sometimes this spring or summer, Card bought an accessory to a firearm, according to the source briefed on the situation.
With the manhunt for Card ongoing, the source noted that Card owns a boat and property in the Lewiston area.
-ABC News’ Luis Martinez and Pierre Thomas
Oct 26, 2:40 PM EDT
Exhaustive search underway for suspected gunman
A sweeping dragnet effort is underway on the ground and in the air as law enforcement partners fan out in full force in their search for the suspected Lewiston gunman, Robert Card.
More than 350 law enforcement personnel are involved in the search.
Evidence response teams are already on the ground, processing the “very extensive scenes” where the shootings took place, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen said.
In these early stages, investigators are probing potential mental health issues Card may have had, and how he was in possession of a weapon.
A motive has also not been determined.
“I think those are all valid questions and certainly questions that we are looking into now, but not questions that we can answer today,” Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Public Safety Mike Sauschuck said.
-ABC News’ Sasha Pezenik
Oct 26, 2:23 PM EDT
What we know about the victims
ABC News has confirmed the names of five of the 18 people killed in Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Maine.
Bob Violette was shot and killed at the bowling alley, which was the first location targeted in the mass shooting. Violette was a youth bowling coach.
Tricia Asselin was also killed at the bowling alley, according to her family.
Joseph Walker was the manager at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, which was the second location targeted in the mass shooting.
Steven Vozzella was among the victims killed at the bar, his family said. He was part of a gathering of deaf people playing cornhole.
Victim Bill Bracket was also part of the gathering of deaf people playing cornhole at the bar, his family said.
Oct 26, 1:59 PM EDT
Biden to GOP: ‘Work with us’ on gun reform
President Joe Biden said in a statement Thursday, “Once again, our nation is in mourning after yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting.”
He said he’s “praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief.”
“Far too many Americans have now had a family member killed or injured as a result of gun violence. That is not normal, and we cannot accept it,” Biden said.
He said, while the nation has made progress on gun reform with “the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the two dozen executive actions I’ve taken, and the establishment of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, it’s simply not enough.”
Biden said he’s urging Republicans in Congress to “work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers.”
“This is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars — physical and mental — of this latest attack,” he said.
“Last night, Lewiston became yet another community torn apart by senseless gun violence,” Vice President Kamala Harris added on Thursday.
Harris, speaking at a State Department luncheon as part of the Australian prime minister’s visit to Washington, D.C., noted how Australia enacted transformative gun reform after a 1996 mass shooting, banning semi-automatic and other weapons. Gun-related deaths in Australia then dropped significantly.
“The leading cause of death of American children is gun violence,” Harris said. “Gun violence has terrorized and traumatized so many of our communities in this country. And let us be clear, it does not have to be this way, as our friends in Australia have demonstrated.”
Biden received another briefing on the shooting Thursday morning and has ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff at the White House and all public buildings and grounds, according to the White House.
-ABC News’ Ben Gittleson
Oct 26, 1:12 PM EDT
Bates College on lockdown
Bates College, a liberal arts school in Lewiston, Maine, remains on lockdown with students ordered to shelter in place as the manhunt for the mass shooter intensifies.
“One college employee was present at one of the shooting locations and was injured, but is expected to make a full recovery,” college President Garry Jenkins said. “Two students were also near one of the crime scenes but were unharmed.”
“Our thoughts are with those who have close ties to those who were killed or injured,” he said. “Unfortunately, as the search for the person of interest continues, we remain in an emergency situation under shelter-in-place orders.”
Oct 26, 12:52 PM EDT
Owners of bowling alley, bar speak out
The first shots were fired at Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, formerly known as Sparetime.
“None of this seems real, but unfortunately it is,” the owners of the bowling alley said in a statement. “We are devastated for our community and our staff. We lost some amazing and wholehearted people from our bowling family and community last night. There are no words to fix this or make it better. We are praying for everyone who has been affected by this horrific tragedy. We love you all and hold you close in our hearts.”
Minutes after the massacre at the bowling alley, the mass shooting continued at the nearby Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant.
“My heart is crushed. I am at a loss for words. In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason,” a statement from Schemengees said. “We [lost] great people in this community. How can we make any sense of this. Sending out prayers to everyone.”
Oct 26, 12:02 PM EDT
Suspect was behaving erratically this summer during Army service
Maine mass shooting suspect Robert Card allegedly behaved erratically this summer while serving as an Army reservist, according to a defense official.
Card was deployed to Camp Smith Training Center in upstate New York to help support summer training for West Point cadets.
“Card was behaving erratically” on July 17, and “out of concern for his safety, the unit requested that law enforcement be contacted,” the defense official said. Police took Card to Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy for a medical evaluation, the official said.
The manhunt for Card is ongoing.
ABC News’ Luis Martinez
Oct 26, 11:58 AM EDT
Suspect was behaving erratically this summer during Army service
Maine mass shooting suspect Robert Card allegedly behaved erratically this summer while serving as an Army reservist, according to a defense official.
Card was deployed to Camp Smith Training Center in upstate New York to help support summer training for West Point cadets.
“Card was behaving erratically” on July 17, and “out of concern for his safety, the unit requested that law enforcement be contacted,” the defense official said. Police took Card to Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy for a medical evaluation, the official said.
The manhunt for Card is ongoing.
ABC News’ Luis Martinez
Oct 26, 11:55 AM EDT
3 in critical condition
Three people are in critical condition and five others are in stable condition on Thursday morning in the wake of Wednesday night’s mass shooting, according to Dr. John Alexander, chief medical officer at Central Maine Health Care.
Two patients have been transported to other hospitals and two others have been discharged, he said.
Alexander praised the work of the hospital staffers who jumped in to help. He said about 100 off-duty team members volunteered.
ABC News’ Alex Faul
Oct 26, 11:45 AM EDT
Timeline: How the Maine mass shootings unfolded
At 6:56 p.m. Wednesday, emergency dispatchers began to receive 911 calls detailing a male shooting at Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, formerly known as Sparetime, State Police Col. William Ross told reporters during a news conference.
At 7:08 p.m., law enforcement received reports of an active shooter inside the billiards room at the Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant in Lewiston, about 4 miles south of the bowling alley, Ross said.
Oct 26, 11:41 AM EDT
FBI offering SWAT teams, ATF running down potential gun purchases
The FBI is offering SWAT teams to assist with the manhunt and is also making available behavioral scientists who can help assess how the suspect, Robert Card, might behave in the coming hours, multiple law enforcement officials told ABC News.
U.S. Marshals are also assisting in the search for card, sources said.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are running down potential gun purchases by the suspect, sources said.
ABC News’ Pierre Thomas
Oct 26, 11:02 AM EDT
7 killed at bowling alley, 8 at bar
Seven people were killed at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley: one female and six males, authorities said.
Eight people were shot and killed at Schemengees Bar and Grille: seven males inside and one male outside, police said.
Three people died at the hospital, police said.
The suspect, Robert Card, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous, authorities said. A murder warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Oct 26, 10:53 AM EDT
‘One of the safest states in the nation’
“No words can truly or fully measure the grief,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said at a news conference Thursday.
“Our small state of just 1.3 million people has long been known as one of the safest states in the nation,” she said. “This attack strikes at the very heart of who we are and the values we hold dear for this precious place we call home. All Maine people are sharing in the sorrow of the families who lost loved ones last night.”
Oct 26, 10:47 AM EDT
Deadliest shooting of the year
The U.S. has had at least 565 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings are defined as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, according to the archive.
Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which claimed at least 18 lives, is the deadliest shooting of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Oct 26, 10:41 AM EDT
WH spokesperson: Biden grieving, says more needs to be done
President Joe Biden in grieving the loss of life in Maine and is praying for the injured, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told MSNBC.
Kirby urged Congress to do more to ban semi-automatic rifles, which he called weapons of war allowed on the streets, and said that Biden’s recent legislation, the Safer Communities Act, was a start — but not enough.
The Safer Communities Act included incentives for states to pass red flag laws, closed the so-called boyfriend loophole and created an enhanced background check process for people under 21 who are looking to buy firearms from licensed dealers. Biden himself, while signing the bill, said it wasn’t everything he wanted but was a start.
Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the Maine victims.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, “I am heartbroken for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have been injured, and for the entire Lewiston community.”
“The FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals are on the ground to provide investigative support and victims assistance services to our law enforcement partners in Maine,” he said. “No community should have to endure the horrific mass shootings that have become routine in our country.”
Oct 26, 10:18 AM EDT
Person of interest has been Army reservist for 2 decades
The person of interest in the Maine mass shooting, Robert Card, has been an Army reservist since December 2002, the Army said.
He has no combat deployments, the Army said.
His current rank is sergeant first class. His job is listed as petroleum supply specialist.
Oct 26, 10:02 AM EDT
Lisbon police chief: No tip is too small
The police chief in Lisbon, Maine, told reporters Thursday that no tip is too small in the hunt for Robert Carr, the person of interest in the Lewiston, Maine, mass shooting.
Lisbon police chief: ‘No tip is too small’
Lisbon borders Lewiston and is where authorities are searching for the person of interest.
The white Subaru believed to be linked to the person of interest was found in Lisbon.
“If you see something in Lisbon, that is suspicious, I want you to call,” Chief Ryan McGee said.
The chief said that police had responses from agencies all across the state and their federal partners.
He said he sent every one of his available officers to the neighboring community before the situation came to Lisbon.
ABC News’ Luke Barr
Oct 26, 9:40 AM EDT
Deadliest shooting of the year
The U.S. has had at least 565 mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Mass shootings are defined as an incident in which four or more victims are shot or killed, according to the archive.
Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which claimed at least 16 lives, is the deadliest shooting of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Oct 26, 9:37 AM EDT
WH spokesperson: Biden grieving, says more needs to be done
President Joe Biden in grieving the loss of life in Maine and is praying for the injured, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told MSNBC.
Kirby urged Congress to do more to ban semi-automatic rifles, which he called weapons of war allowed on the streets, and said that Biden’s recent legislation, the Safer Communities Act, was a start — but not enough.
The Safer Communities Act included incentives for states to pass red flag laws, closed the so-called boyfriend loophole and created an enhanced background check process for people under 21 who are looking to buy firearms from licensed dealers. Biden himself, while signing the bill, said it wasn’t everything he wanted but was a start.
Oct 26, 8:07 AM EDT
Lewiston, Lisbon municipal offices closed Thursday
Municipal offices in Lewiston and Lisbon, Maine, will be closed on Thursday, officials said.
In Lewiston, where the mass shooting occurred, officials said they would also close the library and cancel all events, including early voting, at city buildings.
“Non-emergency personnel should stay at home tomorrow too,” the city said in a social media post.
The nearby town of Lisbon, where police sources said the person of interest’s Subaru had been traced, also closed municipal buildings on Thursday.
“Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place,” Lisbon officials said in a notice on the town website.
Oct 26, 7:10 AM EDT
Witnesses describe terrifying moments after gunman opened fire
At least 16 people are believed to be dead and dozens more have been injured after a bowling alley came under fire in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday evening — the deadliest of the year and one of the deadliest in recent decades.
Riley Dumont said she heard a loud bang after which her father, a retired cop, corralled them into a corner and put protection in front of them including “tables and a big bench that the kids were hiding behind.”
“I was laying on top of my daughter. My mother was laying on top of me,” said Riley Dumont.
“It felt like it lasted a lifetime,” she added. “I just remember people sobbing and crying.”
Another witness at the bowling alley, whose name is Brandon, but whose last name was not made available, described hearing a “loud pop.”
“Thought it was a balloon,” Brandon said. “I had my back turned to the door. As soon as I turned and saw that it was not a balloon, he was holding a weapon. I just bucked it down the lane and I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up to the machine and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes until the cops got there.”
Meghan Hutchinson, another shooting witness, said “We were very scared and we didn’t know, like, we didn’t know what to do, what to expect from this. You know, nothing like this has ever happened here before. We barricaded in there and another parent was in the room with me. She had a phone and she called 911.”
And Zoe Levesque was grazed by a bullet.
“I never thought I’d grow up and get a bullet in my leg,” said Levesque. “Like, why do people do this? I was more worried about, like, am I going to live and I going to make it out of here. Like, what’s going to happen? Are the cops going to come?”
Oct 26, 6:20 AM EDT
Shelter in place advisory expanded to Bowdoin
“We are expanding the shelter in place advisory and school closings to include the town of Bowdoin. Please stay inside your homes while more than 100 investigators, both local and federal work to locate Robert Card who is a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings,” Maine State Police said in a post on social media.
A news conference is scheduled at 10:30 am today at Lewiston City Hall.
Oct 26, 3:19 AM EDT
Maine State Police to give briefing Thursday morning
ABC News has learned that Maine State Police plan on briefing the media at 10:30 a.m. ET on the mass shooting in Lewiston.
Oct 26, 2:52 AM EDT
Lewiston, Lisbon municipal offices closed Thursday
Municipal offices in Lewiston and Lisbon, Maine, will be closed on Thursday, officials said.
In Lewiston, where the mass shooting occurred, officials said they would also close the library and cancel all events, including early voting, at city buildings.
“Non-emergency personnel should stay at home tomorrow too,” the city said in a social media post.
The nearby town of Lisbon, where police sources said the person of interest’s Subaru had been traced, also closed municipal buildings on Thursday.
“Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place,” Lisbon officials said in a notice on the town website.
Oct 26, 2:01 AM EDT
Maine shooting is ‘worst mass shooting’ of 2023, says gun violence nonprofit
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night is already the deadliest shooting of the year.
At least 20 people are believed to be dead from the shooting with dozens more injured.
The suspect has been on the run for hours.
This is the 565th mass shooting of 2023 and the 31st mass murder, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Oct 26, 5:50 AM EDT
Family hides at bowling alley
Riley Dumont said her 11-year-old daughter was bowling in a children’s bowling league when she heard several shots.
Dumont’s father, a retired police officer, then corralled their family into a corner.
“I was laying on top of my daughter. My mother was laying on top of me,” Dumont told ABC News.
Dumont said she saw three or four apparent victims.
Oct 25, 11:05 PM EDT
Person of interest identified
Lewiston police have identified a person of interest as Robert Card.
Oct 25, 11:45 PM EDT
Person of interest served in military, is a firearms instructor: Sources
Police in Maine have identified a person of interest in the shooting, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
The person of interest has a history of military service and is a firearms instructor, the sources said.
The sources said he also has a mental health history, including a two-week stay this summer at a mental health facility after he allegedly made threats about carrying out a shooting at a National Guard facility.
Authorities have traced his white Subaru to a location in Lisbon, Maine, sources said.
Oct 25, 10:36 PM EDT
Manhunt underway in Maine
The Lewiston Police Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for the city. Residents are urged to stay inside with their doors locked.
The FBI is sending in aviation units to help in the search for the gunman. New Hampshire police are putting up roadblocks to try to confine the gunman if he’s on the run.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement, “I am aware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston. I urge all people in the area to follow the direction of State and local enforcement.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said New Hampshire “officials have been in touch with our counterparts in Maine to offer and provide any medical and safety resources needed as they manage this horrific situation. Our hearts and prayers are with the people of Maine.”
President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Gov. Mills, Maine Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, and “offered full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack,” according to the White House.
Oct 25, 10:22 PM EDT
Mayor is ‘heartbroken’
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said in a statement, “I am heartbroken for our city and our people. Lewiston is known for our strength and grit and we will need both in the days to come.”
Lewiston is about 35 miles north of Portland, Maine.
A nurse at Maine Medical told ABC News the shooting unfolded at a bowling alley during its youth night.
“Maine Medical is on lockdown right now awaiting Lewiston patients,” the nurse said. “They just called for [emergency department] nurses and critical care nurses to come in [and] set up three stretchers to each single critical care bay. They just got their first two patients — both gunshot wounds to their thighs.”
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