Photo: Courtesy of the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office.
LEWISTON, Maine. (WBZ NewsRadio) — (UPDATED 11:11 a.m.) We've learned 18 people are dead and another 13 injured from shooting incidents in Lewiston, Maine Wednesday night. Governor Janet Mills speaking this morning at a press conference at Lewiston City Hall.
Maine State Police say they are searching for 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin, ME, now identified as a suspect in the mass shooting. Card is now facing eight counts of murder. Officials have identified eight victims and are still working to identify the remaining 10. More charges are expected.
"This city did not deserve this terrible assault on it's citizens, on it's peace of mind, on it's sense of security," Governor Mills said. "No city does - no state, no people."
Lewiston Police say they responded to Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, before being called to Schemenges Bar and Grille Restaurant— the second shooting location that sits just over four miles away from the first.
The bowling alley has released a statement on their social media, saying "We lost some amazing and whole hearted people from our bowling family and community last night."
"All Maine people are sharing in the sorrow of the families who lost loved ones last night," Governor Mills said. "Loved ones: normal people who were killed or injured while unwinding from a day of work, or while spending time with their family and friends, socializing."
A shelter place order remains in place for Lewiston, Bowdoin, Lisbon, where police located a vehicle belonging to Card, abandoned. Local schools have canceled class for the day Thursday, and Bates College has done the same, placing the campus on lockdown overnight.
"We know that these events have shocked and frightened our community. And we grieve for those whose lives were tragically lost in this heinous act of violence," Bates College said in its latest emergency update to the student body. Emotional support is on standby with the Campus Safety and Student Affairs teams.
Portland Public Schools is also closed Thursday in the wake of the mass deadly shooting. "All students and staff should remain home today," the administration said. Several other businesses including Hannafords and L.L. Bean also closed locations through out the state. Some of those locations reopened this morning at 10:00 a.m.
WBZ's Jim MacKay reports live from Central Maine Medical Center, the largest local hospital where a number of shooting victims were transported for injuries.
Photo: Jim MacKay / WBZ NewsRadio
Photo: Jim MacKay / WBZ NewsRadio
WBZ's James Rojas spoke to local FBI and ATF agents stationed in Boston, who say they are ready to assist Maine police in the investigation and manhunt.
"We stand ready to assist with any available resources they need, including evidence response, investigative and tactical, as well as victim assistance," the FBI Boston Division said.
WBZ NewsRadio will be keep up with the latest on this developing situation.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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