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Police in the U.S. state of Maine launched an extensive manhunt on Thursday for a shooter responsible for the tragic loss of life, leaving at least 16 people dead at a bowling alley and a bar. This incident stands as the deadliest mass shooting to date in America this year.
Numerous individuals were also reported injured during this rampage in the small town of Lewiston. As an exact death toll was not yet available, local officials estimated the number of fatalities to be between 16 and 22.
In response to this crisis, Lewiston was placed under lockdown on Thursday morning, with schools closed and residents advised to stay indoors for their safety.
Law enforcement authorities are actively seeking an individual named Robert Card, who was captured in surveillance footage entering the Lewiston bowling alley with a semi-automatic rifle equipped with an extended clip. He is to be considered armed and dangerous.
Images of terrified individuals fleeing the scene after the shooting began on Wednesday evening have been widely broadcast by news outlets.
One survivor, whose identity was not disclosed, recounted his experience to CNN, stating that he was within 15 feet (5 meters) of the gunman when the attack unfolded. Initially, he thought it was the sound of a balloon popping. Realizing the true nature of the situation, he sought refuge by hiding near the pins and climbing onto the machines, where he remained for about 10 minutes until law enforcement arrived.
Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
Reports vary regarding the number of casualties, with Lewiston city councilor Robert McCarthy suggesting that as many as 22 people may have lost their lives, while others estimate the toll at 16.
Maine public safety official Mike Sauschuck declined to provide an official death toll, describing the situation as “very fluid.” He confirmed that law enforcement officers were saturating the streets in their efforts to locate the gunman.
President Joe Biden interrupted a state dinner honoring Australia’s prime minister to reach out to Maine’s governor, its two senators, and a local congressman, offering federal support, as per the White House.
The tragedy unfolded when police and emergency responders were called to the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley around 7:15 pm (00:15 Thursday GMT) in response to an active shooter. Subsequently, reports emerged of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille.
Photographs of the 40-year-old Card at the bowling alley were released by the police, showing him appearing calm and composed as he entered the establishment with his rifle raised.
Riley Dumont, another survivor, detailed how she and her family sought refuge in a corner of the bowling venue, taking cover behind tables and a bench. The ordeal felt interminable, with people around them sobbing and crying.
Law enforcement officers reported finding a “vehicle of interest” they had been seeking – a white sport utility vehicle (SUV) – in the nearby town of Lisbon, approximately eight miles (12 kilometers) from Lewiston. Residents in Lisbon were also cautioned to remain off the streets, though Card was not found in the vehicle, according to reports.
This incident ranks as one of the deadliest in the United States since the tragic 2017 mass shooting during a music festival in Las Vegas, where approximately 60 people lost their lives.
Gun violence remains a pervasive issue in the United States, a nation with more guns than people, and efforts to implement stricter gun control measures are consistently met with strong resistance, especially from Republican quarters who staunchly defend the constitutional right to bear arms.
The unfortunate political gridlock continues despite widespread public outcry over recurrent instances of gun violence.
Lewiston, the second most populous city in Maine, is located approximately 30 miles north of the state’s largest city, Portland.
