Maine shooting: Everything we know about attack that left at least 16 dead

Two mass shootings occurred in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens. The suspect is still at large.

There were two active shooting scenes, and police say the incident began at around 6:56 p.m. EDT. Lewiston is located approximately 36 miles from Portland and is the state’s second-largest city.

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A news briefing with Maine State Police is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday for updates on the shooting investigation.

Here is what is known about the shootings, the suspect, and the victims.

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Where did the shootings take place?

The shootings occurred at two locations: A bowling alley on Mollison Way called Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street.

The shootings were reported around 7 p.m. by Maine’s Department of Public Safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck. Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office announced that they were investigating the incidents at 8 p.m. and encouraged all businesses to lock down or close.

Sparetime Recreation had people inside the building when the shooting began. Eyewitnesses described seeing people, including children, fleeing from the scene and being patted down by law enforcement, per CNN. The location also has a grill and arcade, per the business’s website.

Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant hosts parties, corporate events, and family celebrations. This location also has 14 dart boards, 10 pool tables, and TVs to watch all major sporting events, per the website.

Steven Senne/AP

How many people were killed and injured?

At least 16 people were killed in the mass shooting, according to police. More than 50 people were also believed to be injured in the two shootings, according to NBC News.

Lewiston City Councilor Robert McCarthy told CNN Wednesday that the death toll could be as high as 22.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the Lewiston shooting marks the 566th mass shooting in 2023. Mass shootings are defined as those in which four or more people are shot, excluding the shooter, according to most nonprofits and media outlets. The FBI defines “mass murder” as the murder of four or more people. The agency also tracks “active shooter incidents,” but there is no federal or universal definition for a mass shooting.

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

Who is the suspect?

Police are on the hunt for Robert Card, 40, who is at large and is regarded as a “person of interest” in the mass shootings.

Police warned Maine communities that Card “should be considered armed and dangerous.” While police have not apprehended Card, officers located a “vehicle of interest,” a 2013 white Suburu Outback, on Wednesday night in Lisbon, Maine.

The Lewiston Maine police department and the Maine State Police released photos of Card to the public Wednesday night. Residents are advised not to approach Card or make contact with him.

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Card is a trained firearms instructor and “believed to be” in the Army Reserve stationed out of Saco, Maine. A state police bulletin said Card had recently reported hearing voices that told him to “shoot up” the National Guard base in Saco. Card had also been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer.

Residents in the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the towns of Bowdoin and Lisbon have been asked to shelter in place. A reunification center for families had been set up at Auburn Middle School, police said. Several schools and universities in the area, including Portland Public Schools and Bates College, are closed on Thursday.