A gunman targeted a bowling alley and a local bar in Lewiston, Maine, leaving at least 18 dead as well as injuring around 50 more, some of whom were reportedly caught in a stampede. As of the time of publication, the gunman is still at large, with the “person of interest” in the shooting identified as 40-year-old Robert Card, a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve center who recently spent two weeks in a mental health facility.
The Lewiston Police Department declared certain areas off-limits during their active search for the shooter. Road closures included sections of Mollison Way, River Road, and Locust Street to South Avenue, although police confirmed residents will be allowed into the restricted River Road area. Schemengees Bar and Grill, one of the crime scenes, expressed shock and sadness over the killings in a heartfelt social media post, mourning the loss of community members.
All municipal buildings in Lewiston will remain closed today as authorities pursue the hunt for the gunman. A shelter-in-place order was issued in the aftermath of the shootings, and citizens who are non-emergency personnel have been advised to stay home. The lockdown extends to local schools as authorities continue their investigation.
