Maine shootings updates: Suspect at large, at least 16 dead | AP News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A man shot and killed at least 16 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes.
A police bulletin identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins when shots rang out around 7 p.m. Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.
The document, circulated to law enforcement officials, said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide details about his treatment or condition but said Card had reported "hearing voices and threats to shoot up" the military base. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.
Six months. 28 mass killings in the US. That's the worst yet, and all but one case involved guns
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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.
One bowler, who identified himself only as Brandon, said he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.
"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 neighboring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.
"I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I've been barefoot for five hours," he said.
Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away. Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building.
"I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe," Small said. "But the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb."
After the shooting, police, many armed with rifles, took up positions while the city descended into eerie quiet — punctuated by occasional sirens — as people hunkered down at home.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed the shooter walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder.
Two law enforcement officials told The AP that at least 16 people were killed and the toll was expected to rise. However, Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, declined to provide a specific estimate at a news conference, calling it a "fluid situation."
The two law enforcement officials said dozens of people also had been wounded. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were "reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event" and were coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients. The hospital was locked down and police, some armed with rifles, stood by the entrances.
Meanwhile, hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the south, were on alert to potentially receive victims.
An order for residents and business owners to stay inside and off the streets of the city of 37,000 was extended Wednesday night from Lewiston to Lisbon, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away, after a "vehicle of interest" was found there, authorities said.
Gov. Janet Mills released a statement echoing instructions for people to shelter. She said she had been briefed on the situation and will remain in close contact with public safety officials.
President Joe Biden spoke by phone to Mills and the state's Senate and House members, offering "full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack," a White House statement said.
Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, said he was "deeply sad for the city of Lewiston and all those worried about their family, friends and neighbors" and was monitoring the situation. King's office said the senator would be headed directly home to Maine on the first flight possible.
Local schools will be closed Thursday and people should shelter in place or seek safety, Superintendent Jake Langlais said, adding: "Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them."
Wednesday's death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.
Maine doesn't require permits to carry guns, and the state has a longstanding culture of gun ownership that is tied to its traditions of hunting and sport shooting.
Some recent attempts by gun control advocates to tighten the state's gun laws have failed. Proposals to require background checks for private gun sales and create a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases failed earlier this year. Proposals that focused on school security and banning bump stocks failed in 2019.
State residents have also voted down some attempts to tighten gun laws in Maine. A proposal to require background checks for gun sales failed in a 2016 public vote.
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Associated Press journalists Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, Michael Balsamo in New York, Darlene Superville in Washington, Michael Casey in Boston and Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
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Why was he still in possession of a firearm?
I guess it just goes to show that even though the law says one should not have a firearm, bad guys with an axe to grind will find a way to get their hands on one. Sad SAD story here...............
and now.............22 dead........SMH
It shows that our society (in general) is more worried about keeping guns easy to get and keep than protecting lives and providing the public access to adequate mental health.
they can't relieve the mentally unbalanced of firearms. too many trump supporters would qualify.
Spot on !!!!!
Maine does not have a Red Flag law.
So the question I would have (as I cannot find information this early in the news cycle) is did someone start the process to enact the yellow flag laws to remove guns from this person or like so many times we have seen in the past did nobody start the process and rather ignore the issue? Was this not started because he was released from his two-week stay at a mental facility as "they" felt enough progress had been made that he was no longer a threat?
Why was he walking among us?
Likely because there aren't enough mental health facilities, and because the legal threshold for confining the dangerously mentally ill in appropriate facilities where they can receive treatment (prisons don't count), much like the threshold for confiscating their guns even after they've threatened to commit mass murder with them, is too high.
Some naive and uninformed people think that more "common sense" gun laws and universal background checks will stop mass shootings.
Until and unless a person has been adjudicated by a court to be mentally ill and a danger to themselves and/or have a police record, they are free to obtain a weapon by making a legal purchase. Or as stated above, they'll find a way to get one.
As usual, politics will again rear its ugly head as the left proceeds to cast blame for the shooting upon NRA, Republicans, conservatives, et al.....before all the facts are in.
1) If people are the problem, why would you give them guns?
2) When was the last time the NRA, Republicans or conservatives offered up a solution to the rampant mass shootings in this country, (565 this year alone)? Never.
yeah, they have no skin in the game. /s
what a totally misinformed and ridiculous comment...
What were you expecting?
I said that where exactly?
The NRA spends millions of dollars every year to influence legislation. $4,920,000 in 2021, for example.
Where did I say anything about confiscation?
Ok got it, I didn't say anything about confiscation.
Where did I say I DID have a plan?
Well, "access" was implied, sorry you didn't get that part. I will explain things more simply for you next time.
Pennies on the dollar compared to what Bloomberg spends in favor of gun control
Yea, I knew that one. But here is a fact you may not be aware of; guns are sold all over the country.
I’ve lived my whole life without guns, and will continue to do so without anxiousness and fear. As a bonus, it is impossible for anyone to be hurt or killed by an accidental gun discharge in my house. It is sad that so many Americans are so paralyzed with fear that the country is completely saturated with firearms, leading to huge numbers of unwarranted deaths.
In my opinion its not only fear that runs this culture. It's the proliferation of guns in pop culture. I love a John Wick type movie as much (or more) than the next guy, but there is no denying the rise of the American anti-hero in media has some relationship to the rise in gun ownership. This isn't the only issue, but it's a large one.
That's where he should have went instead of to a bowling alley where kids were bowling. He might have been stopped at the base
wednesday night is league night at most bowling alleys. the shooter was definitely looking for a crowd.
I saw a bunch of shit online about this guy last night when I tried looking for him on FB. I don't know how much of it was true or not. he spent 20 years in the army and was a sergeant, now a reservist. he's a registered sex offender. he spent 2 weeks in the nut house this past summer. he had a job as weapons instructor. supposedly belonged to some kind of local militia.
The progressive merry go round continues:
today: pass more gun laws!
tomorrow: vote for people who won’t charge offenders For violating gun laws!
That makes perfect sense, if you are an idiot, it's not the persons fault so he isn't responsible for his actions, the evil inanimate object made him do it.
Sure, George. And every country where gun ownership is illegal is 100% full of idiots too.
Sigh, if you can't engage with an honest comment please just go away.
“…the evil inanimate object made him do it.”
No one is saying anything close to that. What any responsible citizen acknowledges is that there is a real problem.
The truly inanimate objects are the legislatures and citizenry totally unwilling to even address the ongoing carnage, totally content in their bumper-sticker sloganeering.
We are better than this.
Guess you can try that in a small town.
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I always find it amazing how comfortable some people are posting as if stupidity were a virtue.
3 dozen people are dead or injured, and the piece of shit responsible is still on the loose - but you think my observation is the stupid part. SMMFH
You first.
Sucks when a bullshit narrative is shit on, I guess. Turns out small towns aren’t magic. Evil shit happens there, too. See also: Uvalde.
ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY...
What bullshit narrative would that be?
“What bullshit narrative would that be?
That in some vigilante utopia there will always be a ‘good guy with a gun’ to take out the threat. All that entails is more armed people…too often not properly trained, too often quick on the trigger, and way too often imagining a danger that doesn’t exist.
You continue to prove my point for me. Thanks
Surprisingly, Maine has one of the highest per capita gun ownership while have one of the lowest murder and violent crime rates. Maybe it’s the water.
Ahh, well then perhaps the government, local and federal, should do more to make citizens safe from criminal elements.
“Ahh, well then perhaps the government, local and federal, should do more to make citizens safe from criminal elements.”
Agreed. Starting with keeping guns out of the hands of those who are an obvious or potential danger.
Been charged with a violent crime? so sorry. Have a restraining order? too bad. Has a medical professional thrown a red flag? not now. Easily legislated but here come the tired and stale deflections…
I'm good with those plus a much more vigorous enforcement of existing gun laws.
That aligns with what most figures state - The most recent general figures of gun deaths I've heard are rural areas have a higher rate of gun death by suicide, while larger urban areas have higher rates of gun deaths by homicide. The gun death suicide numbers were higher by nearly a third than the homicide numbers in (I think) 2022 (maybe 2021? <- I'm too tired to look it up.). The study was done to prove, or refute, the numerous articles about red state/blue state gun violence arguments.
You won't get deflections from me as long as these proposed laws have a process for the gun owner to appeal any ruling. Rights shouldn't be taken on one person's say so without due process. Other than I'm good.
I used to feel the same way-- but that was long ago. Now (after many years online) it doesn't surprise me in the least.
And the mentally ill.
You do have to wonder where everybody's guns were.
My guess would be out in their trucks...
Yeah. But I'm curious how he was able to move from one location to another. Seems like people would have heard the shots or got a text or something.
Guns aren’t magic. It’s fine to have them, but not many people want to have the thing physically on their person 24/7.
Really? I had no idea.
Obviously. And many establishments make you leave them in the car/truck anyway.
That said, it still seems unlikely the word wasn't out in a small town while he went between the bar and the bowling alley.
Thank god for the second amendment and all those good guys with guns. I mean without it someone could have gone on a killing spree at a bowling alley or a restaurant.
Surprisingly, Maine has a very high rate of gun ownership and a very low rate firearm homicide. Maybe they have a higher ratio of good guys than the rest of the country.
If I'm not mistaken, Switzerland has the highest-- or one of the highest-- rates of gun ownership in Europe. And also one of the lowest if not the lowest incidents of gun violence.
(I'm not sure exactly what that means, but interesting if true)
“You do have to wonder where everybody's guns were.”
At least one should never have been allowed in the wrong hands.
Well.. that ship sailed long ago.
Which won't stop people arguing about it.
“Well.. that ship sailed long ago.”
Meaning just what?
We accept the fact that more innocents will die because we lack the courage to do what is necessary?
We have the capacity but somehow lack the will…the most damning indictment imaginable…all under the tragic backdrop of yet another set of families preparing to bury their loved ones.
Again, we must be better.
Meaning that the scope of the problem far exceeds the reasonable expectations of efficacy for any popular "solution".
What ... exactly... in your mind constitutes "what is necessary"?
How fancifully optimistic.
Odd how nobody gives a shit about "loved ones" or complains about "lack of will" when the victims are poor black boys gunned down by other poor black boys and "what is necessary" is actually possible but takes a massive amount of work.
“Odd how nobody gives a shit about "loved ones" or complains about "lack of will" when the victims are poor black boys gunned down by other poor black boys…”
If you have nothing to contribute but a poorly veiled racial trope then you really do have nothing to contribute. Be safe.
Exactly, yours was a contribution and a half.
What a wonderfully clean and easy way to rationalize indifference. But statistics can be inconvenient when they don't go your way.
But for me personally, that idea involves actual names of very real, very dead kids who played football or basketball for me. Reggie. Chris. Jordan.
They don't matter less because they're black. Well... they shouldn't. But we lose about 10,000 of them every year and nobody says a word.
A few white people get shot and it's time to rewrite the Constitution.
“A few white people get shot and it's time to rewrite the Constitution.”
Unbelievable how far you missed the point. Blank.
Fill us in.
Is it really only a few?
(Curious minds want to know)
Absolutely.
I noticed you have yet to define "what is necessary".
Do tell.
“Well.. that ship sailed long ago.”
Meaning just what?
We accept the fact that more innocents will die because we lack the courage to do what is necessary? We have the capacity but somehow lack the will…the most damning indictment imaginable…as yet another set of families prepare to bury their loved ones.
Again, we must be better.
Morning afray...not sure it is a lack of courage.
It's more a case of it's all to late and an over whelming problem that no one really knows how to tackle.
And unfortunately it stems from toddlers to adults either accidentally or deliberately shooting people...
We have guns, lots of guns, have more guns now since our Port Arthur massacre...
But we have very different mentality and mind set towards guns...and so far it has worked for us.
Yes we still have shootings and stabbings, but not in the numbers and frequency of the US and hopefully never do...
Once was enough for us...🥀🥀🥀
It's. . .interesting. Now the 'best of us' have broken out as a spree killer. It's evidence of things left unchecked and allowed to rise or fall on its own. I am grateful that this individual did not get some rest and resume (today) with more killings. Hopefully, Friday will be a good day for the Eastern United States too!
Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery.
I was going to say "Let's Go Brandon" but I won't out of respect for the victims of this horrendous tragedy.
BTW I had read that other modern countries only a have a small percentage of gun violence victims compared to the U.S.
. Its really to bad that there's nothing we can to to fix our problem of gun violence. 
I was listening to a little girl relate her experience on the news this morning and it struck me. Are we prepared for the mental illness that may arise from the survivors of a mass shooting? This little girl seemed scared and anxious and why wouldn't she be? She went out for a night of bowling and got a lifetime of terror.
No.
It doesn't have to involve a mass shooting. Almost all people suffer mental trauma from witnessing violence of any form whether it is in the home, school, workplace, bar, shopping center, etc. The experience will change their brain. Some people will develop a kind of self-imposed amnesia, but may be triggered whenever they are exposed to aggressive people. There are so many different factors on how much violence a person can witness or withstand before a complete break with reality.
Funeral homes offer grief counseling for people who are devastated by a loss of a loved one due to old age. Yet, there is a severe lack of support for victims of violence at any age. Maybe it could be because our politicians have lived lives so far from violence they just don't care or maybe they just don't care period.
Nope. Conservatives are simply ideologues. Democrats at least have offered their votes, their time to write legislation, and been verbose on the subject of guns, deaths from guns, and doing better as a society with guns. . . . They can't get support from conservatives—especially MAGA. Let's speak plainly about the issue and those who do nothing to make it better or fix it once and for all.
What makes people violent? Guns?
I would say most violent people have more in common with the man in the following news article than they do will the vast majority of gun owners in the US. Society needs protected from the mentally ill who use whatever tools they have at hand (including their own hands) to torture whoever they can gain power over.
Only four, of the nine children, managed to mentally escape their authority figure's indoctrination enough to physically distance themselves from him. Sadly, if they ever breed, they will probably follow their father's example of child rearing and so will their children. The cycle of abuse is very difficult to break when children are raised to believe that abuse if love. I am a product of such indoctrination. I left "home" at 17 and did not return. I have still spent my lifetime paying for the indoctrination I received as a child.
I thought the same thing when listening to 'her' - as I am sure we saw the same child on the networks. It really broke my heart that she is the "voice" of a generation of kids and I think the young girls said she was shot in the leg? Then, she asked the million dollar question that is impactful to me: " Why do people do this to each other. Of course, the "grown-up" conservatives will ignore her or just be immeasurably happy that she possibly did not get on their airways!
I would not wish a 'wartime' scenario and a gunshot or gunshots on any one at-known a child. I have never been shot at or shot. This child, these children have more experience with guns than me. Yes! A lifetime of terror or at least a certain expectation of "doom" awaits each and everyone of them. As they have seen violence on a scale that I have not and I am old(er) now!
What must we pay for your gun freedom? Life? Liberty? Happiness?
We might start enforcing existing laws and prosecuting criminals. The libs are notoriously soft on crime and punishment.
Killer has been found dead by self-inflicted gunshot.
Conservatives are "notoriously" hard in support of the 2nd Amendment. Ad nauseam. It would be comical if it as not so deadly, how conservatives have left this country exposed to gun violence by a sheer love for guns and hatred of liberals their fellow citizens. Disrespect of people and their livelihood continues. . . .
Last Father’s Day Weekend and the CPD called it a success.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago shootings over the holiday weekend have left more than 75 shot, 14 fatally, police said.
Interim CPD Supt. Fred Waller held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, saying there was progress this holiday weekend. Still, he admitted more needs to be done.
My gun freedom cost Chicago nothing.
WTF?
I thought the same thing when I read the interim Chicago Police Department Superintendent’s words.
Are you recommending censorship? Which of these favorite accounts is most likely to have caused the killing of 18 white people?
Did I suggest that or say that?
Then what was the point of 13 ?
which of those accounts or personalities do you follow?
None, you?
It is being reported his favorite band is Nickleback, obviously anybody who likes Nickleback is a head case.
No.