Firearms teacher is individual of curiosity in Maine taking pictures

The person recognized as an individual of curiosity in a mass killing in Maine is a firearms teacher skilled by the navy and was lately dedicated to a psychological well being facility, in response to a state police bulletin.

The police intelligence bulletin, reviewed by The Related Press, was being circulated to regulation enforcement officers on Wednesday evening after the shootings that left not less than 16 individuals lifeless.

The bulletin says the person, Robert Card, had been skilled as a firearms teacher at a U.S. Military Reserve coaching facility in Maine. The doc says Card had been dedicated to a psychological well being facility for 2 weeks in the summertime of 2023. It didn’t present particular particulars about his remedy or situation.

The doc additionally mentioned Card had reported listening to voices and had threatened to hold out a taking pictures on the navy coaching base in Saco, Maine.

Card was being sought by police as an individual of curiosity in Wednesday’s shootings. A phone quantity listed for Card in public data was not in service.

Lewiston Police confirmed in a Fb publish that Card was an individual of curiosity within the taking pictures and mentioned he must be thought of armed and harmful.

The shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston on Wednesday evening killed not less than 16 individuals and engulfed the state’s second-largest metropolis in chaos. The suspect remained at massive as authorities ordered residents and enterprise house owners to remain inside and off the streets.

Two regulation enforcement officers advised The Related Press dozens of individuals additionally had been wounded. The officers weren’t licensed to publicly talk about particulars of the continuing investigation and spoke to AP on situation of anonymity.

Lewiston Police mentioned in an earlier Fb publish that they had been coping with an lively shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace launched two images of the suspect on its Fb web page that confirmed a shooter strolling into an institution with a weapon raised to their shoulder.

“Please keep off the roads to permit emergency responders entry to the hospitals,” police mentioned.

On its web site, Central Maine Medical Middle mentioned employees had been “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter occasion” and had been coordinating with space hospitals to absorb sufferers. A girl who answered the cellphone within the emergency division mentioned no additional data may very well be launched and that the hospital itself was on lockdown.

Melinda Small, the proprietor of Legends Sports activities Bar and Grill, mentioned her employees instantly locked their doorways and moved all 25 prospects and staff away from the doorways after a buyer reported listening to in regards to the taking pictures on the bowling alley lower than a quarter-mile away round 7 p.m. Quickly, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer finally escorted everybody out of the constructing 4 at a time. Everybody within the bar is protected.

“I’m actually in a state of shock. I’m blessed that my staff responded shortly and everyone seems to be protected,” Small advised The Related Press. “However the identical time, my coronary heart is damaged for this space and for what everyone seems to be coping with. I simply really feel numb.”

The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8 p.m. because the sheriff’s workplace reported that regulation enforcement companies had been investigating “two lively shooter occasions.” Officers issued an replace round 10 p.m. on their search.

“Keep away from the world till authorities give the all-clear,” the assertion mentioned. “Search various routes to avoid the world and any disruptions. If already working within the affected area, adhere to all directions issued by native officers, together with the shelter-in-place order.”

“We’re encouraging all companies to lock down and or shut whereas we examine,” the sheriff’s workplace reported.

A spokesperson for Maine Division of Public Security urged residents to remain of their properties with their doorways locked.

“Regulation enforcement is at the moment investigating at two areas proper now,” Shannon Moss mentioned. “Once more please keep off the streets and permit regulation enforcement to diffuse the scenario.”

Gov. Janet Mills launched a press release echoing these directions. She mentioned she has been briefed on the scenario and can stay in shut contact with public security officers.

President Joe Biden had spoken by cellphone to Mills and the state’s Congress members, providing “full federal assist within the wake of this horrific assault,” a White Home assertion mentioned.

Native colleges shall be closed Thursday and other people ought to shelter in place or search security, Superintendent Jake Langlais mentioned, including: “Keep near your family members. Embrace them.”

Lewiston, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Portland, emerged as a serious heart for African immigration into Maine. The Somali inhabitants, which numbers within the 1000’s, has modified the demographics of the as soon as overwhelmingly white mill metropolis into one of the vital various in northern New England.

Ange Amores, a spokesperson for the town of Lewiston, mentioned metropolis officers usually are not commenting on the taking pictures. Amores mentioned Maine State Police had been planning to carry a information convention, seemingly at metropolis corridor, to replace the general public on Wednesday evening.

Maine Sen. Angus King, an unbiased, mentioned he was “deeply unhappy for the town of Lewiston and all these frightened about their household, buddies and neighbors” and was monitoring the scenario. King’s workplace mentioned the senator can be headed immediately house to Maine on the primary flight attainable.

Editor’s word: Up to date. Provides location of incidents, remark from hospital, metropolis spokesperson, Sen. Angus King. MAJOR UPDATE: Provides new loss of life toll. Combines with earlier and provides remark from native enterprise proprietor, background on Lewiston. Main replace with suspect data. Headline up to date.