The manhunt for a mass shooting suspect will impact the first day of hunting season in the state for some towns.
Governor Janet Mills confirmed that 18 people were killed and 13 injured in a pair of shootings Wednesday night in Lewiston.
Multiple incidents were reported to police Wednesday evening, with a report of an active shooter at Just-In-Time Recreation, formerly known as Sparetime Recreation, on Mollison Way around 7 p.m. Reports of an active shooter then came in from Schemengees Bar and Grille on Lincoln Street just after 7 p.m.
Police continue to search for the suspect, 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin. Police say Card is considered armed and dangerous.
A shelter-in-place order in surrounding communities was lifted effective immediately as of 5 p.m. Friday.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says hunting in Bowdoin, Lewiston, Lisbon, and Monmouth will be prohibited beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday until further notice. Officials say the decision was made to ensure public safety and assist law enforcement.
The Maine Information and Analysis Center released a bulletin identifying Card as an Army reservist stationed out of Saco. They said he was reportedly committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this summer and was released.
Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, police located a vehicle belonging to Card that had been abandoned near the Paper Mills Trail and Miller Park Boat Launch on Frost Hill in Lisbon.
Dive teams were searching the river on Friday and those efforts were expected to continue Saturday morning with additional assets available to help, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said.
Senior law enforcement officials told NBC News Thursday a note was found at the suspect’s home in Bowdoin. Investigators were attempting to ascertain the meaning of the note.
CBS News also learned that investigators are looking into whether Card was targeting a current or former girlfriend. There’s been no confirmation that she was at either of the two locations that Card targeted Wednesday night.
Public Information Officer Shannon Moss said Thursday afternoon there were over 350 law enforcement personnel involved in the search, with officers from all over the state and national agencies.
Police said Card is facing eight murder charges, with the other charges expected as police identify all of the victims.
Anyone with information as to Card’s whereabouts is asked to call (207) 213-9526 or (207) 509-9002.
We’ll continue to bring you updates online and on the air at 560 AM/FM 98.5.
