18 Dead, 13 Hurt in Lewiston, Maine Mass Shooting; Suspect At Large

UPDATED 10:37 PM Lewiston Police continue to search for a person of interest after a mass shooting in that city that killed 18 people.

UPDATE: Robert Card was found deceased in Lisbon of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday evening. 

What we know so far

• The shootings took place at two Lewiston businesses - a restaurant called Schemengees Bar and Grill and a bowling alley called Just In Time.

• Maine State Police say 18 people are dead, and 13 wounded. 7 people died at Just in Time (6 males, and 1 female), while 8 males were killed at Schemengees. 3 people who were sent to the hospital have also died for a total of 18. The wounded have been sent to area hospitals.
• A spokesperson for Central Maine Medical Center reported, at a news conference Thursday evening, that 8 patients remain at their facility. Of those people, 5 were said to be in stable condition and 3 are in critical care. 1 patient was taken to another hospital from the sight of the shooting.
• A person of interest has been identified by Lewiston and Maine State Police. Robert Card, 40, is considered armed and dangerous.
• So far, there are arrest warrants for Card on 8 counts of murder. 10 victims have still not been identified, so the number of counts will increase as that process is completed.
• Anyone who thinks they've seen Mr. Card is advised NOT TO APPROACH. Call 911 immediately.
• So far, there's no comment on what may have motivated the shooting.
• A car, believed to belong to Robert Card, has been found at a boat launch in Lisbon Falls.
• The massive manhunt is taking place on land and in the air and, according to the Portland Press Herald, involves more than 350 state and federal law enforcement officials. Senator Susan Collins said at a new conference that 80 FBI agents are part of the search. The Associated Press reports Robert Card has a 15-foot boat that remains unaccounted for. The Coast Guard searched the Kennebec River Thursday morning but found no sign of the craft. Officials say there's no specific intelligence that would indicate Card escaped in a watercraft.
• A shelter-in-place order has been extended just before 2 PM Thursday, for all of Androscoggin County. People are being told to stay in their homes, with the doors locked.
• A reunification center has been set up at Auburn Middle School for people with questions about loved ones.
• Schools in many communities are canceling classes for today and some businesses are adjusting their hours.
• The Penobscot County Sheriff's Office has placed deputies in many schools, out of an abundance of caution, even though they say there is no perceived threat in the area.
• President Biden and Governor Janet Mills have ordered flags nationwide at half-staff until October 30th in honor of Maine.

Governor Mills is encouraging people who are struggling to cope with their grief after this tragic event to call or text 988 for free and confidential help.

UPDATE: Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says law enforcement officials are executing several search warrants on Meadow Road in Bowdoin, as of 7:57 Thursday night. She wanted to emphasize that while police are calling Robert Card by name over loudspeakers, they do NOT know if he is in any of the residences. That process is standard procedure in these types of situations, while trying to execute search warrants. The search for Card continues.

Lewiston Shootings Timeline

• At 6:56 p.m., Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Auburn Communications Center was notified that a man walked into the Spare Time Recreation on Mollison Street in Lewiston and began shooting. This was confirmed by multiple 911 calls that followed.
• At 7:08 p.m., The Auburn Communications Center received multiple calls that a man had come into Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street and began shooting.
• Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the scenes.
• At 8:06 p.m., police released a photo of the shooter to the media.
• At 9:26 p.m., the Lewiston Police Department received a call identifying the man in the distributed photos as Robert Card, age 40, of Bowdoin, Maine.
•  At 9:56 p.m., the Lisbon Police Department notified Lewiston Police that they had located a white Subaru at the Pejepscot Boat Launch in Lisbon. The vehicle was identified as belonging to Robert Card.

What Do We Do If We Think We See the Suspect?

Lewiston Police have released a picture of Robert Card. Again, officials say he should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately. DO NOT APPROACH

Anonymous tips can be left with the Maine State Police at either:

207-213-9526 or 207-509-9001

Are There More Images of the Suspect?

The Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office has released these photos of the suspect, hoping someone can identify the person.

Lewiston Police have released this photo of a vehicle they're hoping to locate.

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity or individuals is urged to call 911 immediately.

We'll update this story as more details become available.