Maine towns are locked down as search is on for shooter who killed at least 16 people and escaped; Police identifies a person of interest

A man shot and killed at least 16 people and injured several others at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, U.S. and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes under a shelter-in-place advisory.

A police bulletin identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack in Lewiston that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins, into corners and a back room when shots rang out around 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 26.

“Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts,” the Lewiston Police Department said on Facebook.

Card should be considered armed and dangerous, Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner, Mike Sauschuck said.

“If people see him, they should not approach Card or make contact with him in any way,” Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told reporters at a news conference. 

Law Enforcement officials said Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve. Card had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard Facility in Saco, Maine, and also reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, the officials said. 

Over the summer, he was in a mental health facility because he was still hearing voices.

After the shooting on Wednesday night, police found the suspect’s car but not him. However, an intensive manhunt is ongoing to bring him down.

Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. Several parents and children were at Sparetime as part of a children’s bowling league.

Ten-year-old Zoey Levesque, who was there with her mother, told WMTW-TV she was grazed by a bullet.

“It’s scary,” she said. “I had never thought I’d grow up and get a bullet in my leg. And it’s just like, why? Why do people do this?”

One bowler, who identified himself only as“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon — he was holding a weapon — I just booked it,” he told The Associated Press.

Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. He was among a busload of survivors who were driven to a middle school in the neighbouring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.

“I was putting on my bowling shoes when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he said.

The bowling alley is home to traditional tenpin bowling as well as candlepin, a variant of bowling found in New England. It’s located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the Bates College campus, on the outskirts of downtown. The alley has a small bar and is popular for local bowling leagues and children’s parties.

Wednesday was “industry night” at Schemengees Bar and Grille, with 25% discounts offered to customers who work in the bar or restaurant industry. Brandon said he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.