What we know so far about the mass shooting in Maine

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A tragic incident unfolded in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, where a man carried out a fatal shooting that claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals at a restaurant and a bowling alley. This heinous act prompted an extensive search for a person of interest, who is reported to be a trained firearms instructor. In response to the situation, authorities advised residents to stay in their homes, and schools in the area announced closures for the following day.

This unfortunate shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which is the state's second-largest city, marks the 36th mass killing to occur in the United States this year. The information is based on a database jointly maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in collaboration with Northeastern University. This database encompasses all mass killings since 2006, involving any type of weapon, in which four or more individuals, excluding the perpetrator, lost their lives within a 24-hour timeframe.

Investigations into the suspect and the location of the shooting are ongoing.

The person of interest in the Lewiston, Maine shooting has been identified as Robert Card, who is 40 years old. He is described as a firearms instructor and is believed to be associated with the Army Reserve, assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.

A police bulletin revealed that Card had spent two weeks in a mental health facility during the summer of 2023, although the document did not provide specific information about his treatment or condition. It did, however, note that Card had reported "hearing voices and threats to shoot up" the military base.

The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office has released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page, depicting the individual entering an establishment with a raised weapon. The investigation into this tragic incident is ongoing.

The shooting occurred at two locations in Lewiston, Maine. The first incident took place at Schemengees Bar and Grille, while the second occurred at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley located approximately 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away from the bar and grill. Sparetime Recreation was hosting a children's bowling league at the time, with numerous parents and children present.

The bowling alley is situated about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) to the north of the Bates College campus, on the outskirts of downtown Lewiston. It offers both traditional tenpin bowling and candlepin bowling, which is a variation commonly found in New England.

Lewiston, the second-largest city in Maine, boasts a population of around 37,000 residents. It has become a significant hub for African immigration into the state. The Somali population, consisting of thousands of individuals, has had a transformative impact on the city's demographics, shifting it from being primarily white to one of the most diverse communities in northern New England.

Maine has a well-established culture of gun ownership, deeply connected to the state's traditions of hunting and sport shooting. Notably, Maine does not mandate permits for carrying firearms.

Following the tragic shooting in Lewiston, Maine, several actions and precautions were taken in the aftermath:

A shelter-in-place advisory was issued for Androscoggin County, which includes Lisbon, located about 8 miles away from Lewiston. This advisory was enacted due to the discovery of a "vehicle of interest" in the area.

The shelter-in-place advisory was extended to include Bowdoin, which is situated in Sagadahoc County.

Central Maine Healthcare announced the closure of all physician offices in Lewiston and six neighboring communities for the day. Additionally, all elective surgeries were canceled at Central Maine Medical Center.

As a safety measure, several schools in various communities, including Kennebunk, which is approximately an hour away from Lewiston, decided to close on Thursday.

In response to the incident, classes were also canceled at Bates and Bowdoin colleges, as well as at the Gorham and Portland campuses of the University of Southern Maine.