Late Wednesday night, there was breaking news on a horrific mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, a city located about 36 miles north of Portland that is the state’s second-largest city, as my colleague Bob Hoge reported:
An active shooter situation is ongoing as of this writing in Lewiston, Maine, a city of around 37,000 which is now on lockdown. There were at least three sites where shooting broke out, and there are an unknown number of victims:
Multiple people were shot in three separate incidents Wednesday night in Lewiston, according to early police reports.
Police, fire and rescue personnel descended on Sparetime Recreation on Mollison Way about 7:15 p.m. after a report of an active shooter. Shortly after, reports came in that there was another shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street.
Lewiston public information officer Derrick St. Laurent told the Sun Journal at about 8:15 p.m. that another shooting was reported at the Walmart Distribution Center on Alfred A Plourde Parkway.
Early reports, though unconfirmed by police as of 8 p.m., were that multiple people were shot, some with possibly fatal injuries.
The update that followed included images of both an alleged suspect, Robert Card, and his car, which seemed to be abandoned.
BREAKING: Lewiston Police asking public for information, vigilance regarding this vehicle possibly related to active shooter investigation
— Steve Bottari (@WMURSteve) October 26, 2023
"It is believed that the front bumper may be painted black," they posted.
(Photo: Lewiston, Maine police department) pic.twitter.com/vSVDsYmtht
#BREAKING: The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office in Maine is searching for a suspected active shooter in Lewiston.
— Preston Phillips 🇺🇸 (@PrestonTVNews) October 26, 2023
Per CNN: 16 dead, 50-60 injured.
The sheriff’s office just posted these surveillance stills showing the suspected shooter aiming an AR-style rifle.
Maine State… pic.twitter.com/y1y1KJD6d8
Hoge wrote that several news outlets had varying casualty numbers in the wake of the shootings:
Tragically, reports are now coming out that there are multiple casualties, with Fox News writing that there are 22 dead while ABC News is reporting 16.
The latest update by police officials about the shootings is that the number of deaths stands at 18 at the moment, with 13 people injured. Also, the shootings happened at two, not three, locations:
Maine State Police are searching for Robert Card, 40, in connection with the shootings at Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille.
Now, law enforcement officials are saying that the suspect appears to have planned the slayings well in advance, according to Fox News, along with how he would escape afterward:
Two senior law enforcement sources tell Fox News that the Lewiston, Maine shooting suspect, Robert Card, planned Wednesday night's shooting well in advance and had several hiding spots ready for him to go to.
The sources added that an aircraft with heat sensing technology is flying above the search area.
According to the sources, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is trying to locate the serial number for the weapon used by Card, and is also trying to locate other guns which he may have obtained legally or illegally. With Card's intense firearm training, the search is more difficult.
This may explain why Card still is not in custody. The report adds that the DOJ is "also working quickly to discover a motive and trying to determine if the shooting can be classified as a form of domestic terrorism or a hate crime."
Happening now: Large law enforcement presence at a house in Bowdoin, Maine, amid manhunt for #RobertCard https://t.co/PjjE11PaUU pic.twitter.com/J8SIlZoF8v
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) October 26, 2023
Things may be turning the corner in the investigation, based on new video of several state and federal agencies descending on a property connected with Card in Bowdoin, Maine:
This is on Meadow Road in Bowdoin, right near the suspect's last known residence on Meadow Road given by the police last night https://t.co/YWLF6koKuL
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) October 26, 2023
In the clip shared on X, a man's voice can be heard shouting, "FBI, open the door!" Here's the latest report:
Increased law enforcement activity was seen at property associated with Robert Card in Bowdoin, Maine.
Active FBI and state police activity could be seen at the property. According to property records, Card is associated with the house in Bowdoin.
Two cars of agents with the ATF could be seen entering the scene, adding to the growing law enforcement presence.
As this story continues to develop, RedState will bring you updates as they become available. In the meantime, pray for the people of Lewiston and the state of Maine.
Update: More details about the alleged shooter were learned overnight about Card's military background and potential mental health issues:
Robert Card, person of interest in Lewiston, Maine, mass shootings, allegedly “hearing voices” and threatened to shoot up a National Guard base. He’s also a firearms trainer and believed to be an Army reservist. https://t.co/YSnSHKtADr
— Michael Ruiz (@mikerreports) October 26, 2023
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