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People in the area are asked to stay inside and stay off the roads while police search for a suspect.
LEWISTON, Maine — A shelter-in-place has been issued for Androscoggin County as Maine law enforcement agencies respond to a mass shooting in Lewiston on Wednesday night.
People in the area are asked to stay inside and off the roads while police continue to search for a suspect or suspects.
Reports of the shootings began at about 6:56 p.m. Lewiston Police Department Lt. Derrick St. Laurent told NEWS CENTER Maine shootings happened at Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant.
According to NBC News, 15-20 people are dead following the mass shooting. About 50 are injured, the Associated Press reports.
The suspect(s) of interest is reportedly connected with shootings that occurred on Goddard Road, Mollison Way, and 500 block of Lincoln Street, police stated.
Just before 3 a.m. on Thursday, Lewiston police said Mollison Way will be closed until further notice, and River Road will be closed from Locust Street to South Avenue. River Road residents will be allowed into the closed area, police said.
NBC News says not all those who were injured suffered gunshot wounds. Some people were injured from stampede or during panic to escape the scenes.
In 2022, there were 29 homicides total in Maine.
Lewiston police said in a Facebook post they are attempting to locate 40-year-old Robert Card, of Bowdoin, as a person of interest. He is considered to be armed and dangerous, according to police, and members of the public are advised to not approach him or make any contact.
According to AP, Card was trained as a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Maine. Card also reportedly was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer and reported “hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco,” AP reported.
“If you see any suspicious activity or individuals please call 911,” Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in a news release.
Lewiston police released a photo of a vehicle they are searching for. It is believed that the front bumper may be painted black, they said.
As of midnight Thursday, Maine State Police said in a Facebook post a vehicle of interest was located in Lisbon. Lisbon residents are being asked to shelter in place as law enforcement works to search the area.
Lisbon police are continuing to recommend residents shelter in place as of 5 a.m. Thursday with a special emphasis on residents and businesses between Mill Street in Lisbon Center along the Route 196 corridor east to Main Street in Lisbon Falls, according to a Facebook post.
Lisbon police also stated on Facebook that law enforcement is searching the town for a suspect.
Moss issued an update at about 2:55 a.m. stating no other updates were available and a news conference will be held at the Lewiston City Hall at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
The Bates College campus is on lockdown as of 10:30 p.m., a spokesperson with the school told NEWS CENTER Maine.
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.
President Joe Biden has been briefed about the situation.
Central Maine Medical Center released the following statement:
“Central Maine Medical Center is reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event. At this time there are no specifics to share on the number of casualties. Central Maine Healthcare is coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients.”
Maine Medical Center released the following statement about the incident:
“Maine Medical Center has alerted on-call staff and created critical care and operating room capacity in anticipation of potential patient transports coming from the Lewiston shooting this evening. At this time, MMC can confirm it will receive one patient transport from Central Maine Medical Center. Other MaineHealth facilities are also standing by and preparing to provide care.
Out of an abundance of caution and due [to] the dynamic nature of this situation, MMC and other MaineHealth hospitals have closed their campuses to non-hospital personnel and non-patients until further notice.”
St. Mary’s Health System released the following:
“St. Mary’s Health System has activated our emergency response plans, called in all available staff, and is collaborating closely with local partners to ensure a unified effort in treating those impacted by the events that have taken place tonight.
We will continue to prioritize the safety and care of our patients, and we are working diligently to ensure the hospital environment remains secure. All elective procedures and surgeries scheduled for tomorrow morning have been cancelled, and practices will be closed. We will be reaching out to those with appointments to reschedule.”
Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline issued the following statement via email about the situation:
“Lewiston is currently under a shelter-in-place order, and it is critical to prioritize your safety and the safety of those around you. Please follow all recommended guidelines and stay home. We will continue to monitor this situation and State Police will provide updates. 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.”
Gov. Janet Mills released a statement at 8:30 p.m.:
“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. I will continue to monitor the situation and remain in close contact with public safety officials.”
To read more community and political reactions to the incident, click here.
For updates on local and school closures, click here.
This story is developing and will be updated as information becomes available. NEWS CENTER Maine has sent crews to the scene.
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