Maine towns are locked down and search is on for shooter who killed at least 16 people and escaped

In Maine, a horrifying incident unfolded as a man unleashed a deadly rampage, claiming the lives of at least 16 individuals at a restaurant and a bowling alley. Following the heinous act, the perpetrator fled into the night, setting off a massive manhunt conducted by hundreds of law enforcement officers. As this tragic event unfolded, fearful residents adhered to a shelter-in-place advisory, locking themselves in their homes.

The individual of interest in this brutal attack has been identified as Robert Card, aged 40. He is reported to have ties to the U.S. Army Reserve, serving as a firearms instructor at a training facility in Saco, Maine. Intriguingly, the police bulletin revealed that Card had been committed to a mental health facility for a two-week period during the summer of 2023. While the document did not disclose the specifics of his treatment or condition, it did mention that Card had expressed “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military base. Attempts to contact him via a listed telephone number yielded no results.

The tragic events unfolded in Lewiston, where an active shooter incident occurred at both Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley located approximately 4 miles away. Sparetime was hosting a children’s bowling league, and the incident left some, like ten-year-old Zoey Levesque, with harrowing experiences. Zoey recounted being grazed by a bullet, reflecting on the unsettling reality that she never expected to grow up with such a traumatic encounter.

Eyewitnesses described their experiences during the chaos. One bowler, identified only as Brandon, initially mistook the gunshots for a balloon popping. Upon realizing the danger, he swiftly sought safety, hiding amidst the bowling machinery. A bus transported survivors, including Brandon, to a middle school in the nearby city of Auburn, where they were reunited with loved ones.

The bowling alley, a popular local venue offering both traditional tenpin and candlepin bowling, is situated on the outskirts of downtown Lewiston, approximately 2 miles north of Bates College campus. This tragic event unfolded on what was meant to be an “industry night” at Schemengees Bar and Grille, with discounts offered to those working in the bar and restaurant industry.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the city of Lewiston fell into an eerie silence, punctuated only by occasional sirens. Cautionary measures led to school closures in distant areas like Kennebunk, over 50 miles away, and public buildings were also shuttered in Portland, the largest city in the state.

Law enforcement officials released photos of the suspect on social media, depicting him entering an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder. Tragically, the death toll reached at least 16, with the number of casualties expected to rise. This incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to data maintained by The Big Big News and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

As the community grapples with this horrific tragedy, hospitals, including Central Maine Medical Center, went into emergency response mode to care for the victims. Meanwhile, the broader implications of this event raise questions about gun ownership in Maine, a state without a permit requirement for carrying guns, deeply rooted in a culture of hunting and sport shooting.

This senseless act has left a profound impact on Maine, a state that experienced only 29 homicides throughout the entire previous year. Prominent author Stephen King, who resides nearby, expressed his dismay, emphasizing the urgent need for addressing gun violence in the country. Maine’s unique stance on gun laws and the challenges of implementing stricter regulations loom large as this heart-wrenching incident reverberates across the state and the nation.

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