Maine shooting: Police begin searching river near where suspect Robert Card’s car was found

Maine officials confirmed Robert Card, the mass shooting suspect in the Lewiston killing on Wednesday evening, is still at large. Maine Commissioner of Public Safety Michael Sauschuck gave updates to the large-scale investigation to find Card on Friday morning.

Speaking alongside Lewiston Chief of Police David St. Pierre at the Lewiston City Hall, Sauschuck said officials worked more than 530 tips overnight into Card’s whereabouts. Officials are exploring multiple scenarios, including that Card could be in the river or deceased. Police are continuing to investigate scenes of the crime.

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“I would expect that we’re still days away from completing those particular investigations, those particular crime scenes,” Sauschuck said, pointing to investigations at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation — the two locations of the shooting.

At least 18 people were killed and 13 injured, authorities said on Thursday, with that number unchanged as of Friday morning. Authorities have identified eight of the 18 killed, with Sauschuck confirming the families of the eight identified have been notified.

The manhunt has been underway for nearly 40 hours on both land, air, and water. Sauschuck detailed plans for divers to go in the water on Friday where investigators say Card’s vehicle was found by a boat launch in the town of Lisbon near the Androscoggin River.

“What I’m telling you is you’re gonna see a lot of activity here,” Sauschuck said, clarifying they aren’t confirming Card is in the water. “We’ve got nothing to hide in that regard at all.”

Sauschuck said sonar will be utilized along the shoreline, noting helicopters will still be providing air assistance. Additional officers will be checking the woods.

“Our main ward and service is heavily involved in this,” Sauschuck said of the river search. “We work with them all the time. The Maine State Police dive team will be in the water and will be leading this initiative.”

An arrest warrant was issued for 40-year-old Card, charging him with eight counts of murder, which officials said will rise as more of the deceased are identified. According to state police, seven people were killed at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, one female and the rest male. Eight others were killed a few miles away at Schemengees Bar and Grille, all of them male.

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On Thursday evening, armed agents from the FBI and other officials surrounded a home in Bowdoin, Maine, believed to be the suspect’s last known address. Those in the home were ordered to surrender, but after multiple hours, authorities backed off. Sauschuck said the large police presence last night was standard procedure.

The Maine Department of Public Safety will be holding a news conference every morning, providing updates about the investigation, at Lewiston City Hall until further notice.