Here's a timeline of how Wednesday night unfolded in Lewiston, Maine
From CNN's Nouran Salahieh, Sara Smart and John Miller
The two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday night have left the small New England city shaken as a manhunt continues for the gunman.
Here's a timeline of the evening:
Around 7 p.m.: Two shootings are reported in Lewiston with multiple casualties, according to Maine’s Department of Public Safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck.
8 p.m.: Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office releases photos of the armed suspect and says it’s investigating two active shooter incidents. The agency encourages “all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate.”
8:09 p.m.: Maine State Police says there’s “an active shooter in Lewiston” and tells people to stay inside with their doors locked. “Law enforcement is currently investigating at multiple locations,” the agency added.
8:26 p.m.: The neighboring city of Auburn urges all residents to shelter in place.
8:53 p.m.: Lewiston police identify the shooting locations as Schemengees and Sparetime Recreation, a restaurant and bowling alley.
9:17 p.m.: Lewiston police release the image of a white vehicle, asking members of the public to contact them if they see it. Maine State Police tell CNN the image is of the suspect’s car.
10:52 p.m.: Police on social media name Robert Card as a “person of interest” in the shootings and release his photo.
Around 11:30 p.m.: Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck says a “vehicle of interest” was found in Lisbon, about 8 miles from Lewiston, but the person of interest remains at large.
11:34 p.m.: Lisbon officials say all town offices will be closed on Thursday and tell people to keep sheltering in place.
21 min ago
Authorities schedule news conference about mass shooting for 10:30 a.m. ET in Lewiston
From CNN’s Chris Boyette
A news conference about the mass shooting will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lewiston City Hall, according to Maine State Police public information officer Shannon Moss.
Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for Robert Card, who Lewiston police identified as "a person of interest" and said should be “considered armed and dangerous.
23 min ago
Restaurant posts message of grief on social media: “My heart is crushed”
From CNN’s Chris Boyette
Schemengees Bar and Grill, one of the two locations targeted by a mass shooter in Lewiston, Maine, posted a message of grief on its Facebook page early Thursday morning.
“My heart is crushed. I am at a loss for words. In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason,” the post said. “We loss (sic) great people in this community. How can we make any sense of this. Sending out prayers to everyone.”
A manhunt is underway for Robert Card, 40, who is being sought as a person of interest in the shootings, Lewiston police said around 11 p.m. ET, adding he “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
44 min ago
What we know about the Lewiston bowling alley and restaurant where shootings happened
Wednesday's shootings took place at two locations in Lewiston, Maine — a bowling alley and a restaurant.
Sparetime Recreation, the bowling alley, had families enjoying the evening playing games when the shooting began. Eyewitnesses described seeing people, including children, flee from the location and being patted down outside by police officers. There was also footage of first responders loading a victim into an ambulance outside the business,
The business lies just off the main highway that runs through Lewiston, with an arcade and grill that serves food, according to its website. It regularly hosts special events throughout the week such as "Senior Day" with discounted prices for seniors, and "Glow Bowling" with a DJ.
Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, the second shooting location, hosts parties, family celebrations and corporate events — with an arcade area that includes dart boards and pool tables, according to its website. The restaurant is equipped with 10 pool tables, 14 dart boards and dozens of TVs to catch all the major sporting events, the bar, the website says.
CNN has reached out to both Schemengees and Sparetime Recreation but has yet to hear back.
1 hr 46 min ago
Suspect is at large after 2 mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. Here's what we know
A law enforcement officer carries a rifle outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, on October 25. Steven Senne/AP
An intensive manhunt is underway in Maine after two mass shootings left at least 22 people dead and dozens injured on Wednesday night.
Here's what we know so far:
What happened: There were two active shooting incidents in the city of Lewiston — at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley on Mollison Way, and Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street, according to Lewiston police. State officials say the shootings began around 6:56 p.m. ET. Eyewitnesses described seeing people running away from the bowling alley. Lewiston is about 36 miles north of Portland and is the state’s second-largest city.
A "person of interest": Lewiston police have identified 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin as a person of interest, saying he should be “considered armed and dangerous." Law enforcement officials in Maine say Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve. Card had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine, and also reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, the officials said.
Photo of the person of interest: The sheriff’s office released images of a “suspect for identification.” The person was seen in brown clothing, holding a high-powered assault-style rifle.
The car: Police also shared an image of the vehicle they're looking for — a small white SUV with a front bumper believed to be painted black — which Maine State Police confirmed is the suspect's car.
The manhunt: Maine officials say hundreds of police officers are now working across the state to locate Card, the public was urged to contact law enforcement if they have information about his whereabouts. Residents are being told to continue sheltering in place.
This post has been updated with more details on the "person of interest."
1 hr 40 min ago
A look at Lewiston, Maine, where the shootings took place
A road sign reads 'Shelter in Place' after a man reportedly opened fire killing and injuring numerous people in downtown Lewiston, Maine, on October 25. CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lewiston, Maine, is a small city — with a population of just 38,493 people as of last year, according to the US Census.
It's home to Bates College, a private liberal arts school, and is regularly ranked as one of America's safest cities.
“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 a statement late Wednesday, referring to the mass shooting.
Lewiston is the second biggest city in Maine, after Portland, and sits on the banks of the Androscoggin River.
And though Maine is the whitest state in the nation, according to the 2020 census, immigrant communities have grown in size recently, as well as in other states including Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington.
Between 2017 and 2021, more than 7% of Lewiston residents were foreign-born, according to the census — still lower than the national average of nearly 14%. And in those years, 19% of Lewiston residents spoke a language other than English at home.
2 hr 41 min ago
Lewiston public schools and nearby districts cancel classes on Thursday
From CNN’s Chris Boyette and Joe Sutton
As police continue to search for a person of interest involved in the Lewiston shootings, which left at least 22 dead Wednesday night, local schools have announced they will cancel classes on Thursday.
"There remains a lot of unknowns at this time. Information moves quickly but not always accurately. Please continue to shelter in place or get to safety. We will continue to update you with information and next steps as appropriate,” Lewiston Public Schoolssaid in a post.
“Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them. Our prayers go out to those who lost someone tonight. Our prayers go out to all those working to stop further loss of life.”
A number of other nearby schools and districts also announced they would be closed or have classes canceled on Thursday:
Maine town where person of interest's car was found to close municipal offices Thursday
From CNN's Sharif Paget
Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, October 25. Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Town offices in Lisbon, which neighbors Lewiston, Maine, where the shootings took place Wednesday night, will be closed on Thursday as a manhunt continues for the suspect in two mass shootings.
"Law enforcement in Androscoggin County are investigating two active shooter events. All town offices will be closed on October 26th. Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place," the town website said.
The vehicle connected to Robert Card, identified by police as a person of interest, was located in Lisbon Wednesday night, according to Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck.
2 hr 50 min ago
Local mayor says witnesses to the shooting were of all ages
From CNN’s Sara Smart
Jason Levesque speaks during an interview. WGME
Witnesses of the shootings in Lewiston were of all ages, including teenagers, said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque, adding that the community was in shock.
Auburn is a city less than 2 miles west of Lewiston.
Speaking to media outside a reunification center, Levesque said there was a lot of fear, panic and worry among residents there.
“You can train for this but you can never be completely prepared,” Levesque said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation.”
Speaking to CNN later that night, Levesque said he wasn't aware of any children among those killed — but knows one high school student who was wounded.
"Auburn and Lewiston are side by side ... a river separates us. Combined, our population is around 60,000. You cannot help but know people who know someone, so this will impact every corner of our community," he said.
He described hearing more about what unfolded Wednesday night from eyewitnesses at the reunification center, including one man who was playing the lawn game cornhole when he heard "a couple pops ... but didn't think anything of it, it is Halloween. Then he started seeing everybody scream and move."
Authorities across Maine are involved in the ongoing manhunt, with 40-year-old Robert Card identified as a person of interest.
This post has been updated with more comments from the mayor
At least 22 people were killed in two mass shootings at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday night, one of the city's councilors told CNN. Another 50 to 60 people were injured, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
An intensive manhunt is underway for a suspect, officials said, and police are asking residents to shelter in place as the situation is ongoing. Lewiston is the state's second-largest city and is about 36 miles north of Portland.
Police identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest, adding he should be “considered armed and dangerous."
The violence on Wednesday added to a list of 565 mass shootings reported across the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
The two mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday night have left the small New England city shaken as a manhunt continues for the gunman.
Here's a timeline of the evening:
Around 7 p.m.: Two shootings are reported in Lewiston with multiple casualties, according to Maine’s Department of Public Safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck.
8 p.m.: Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office releases photos of the armed suspect and says it’s investigating two active shooter incidents. The agency encourages “all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate.”
8:09 p.m.: Maine State Police says there’s “an active shooter in Lewiston” and tells people to stay inside with their doors locked. “Law enforcement is currently investigating at multiple locations,” the agency added.
8:26 p.m.: The neighboring city of Auburn urges all residents to shelter in place.
8:53 p.m.: Lewiston police identify the shooting locations as Schemengees and Sparetime Recreation, a restaurant and bowling alley.
9:17 p.m.: Lewiston police release the image of a white vehicle, asking members of the public to contact them if they see it. Maine State Police tell CNN the image is of the suspect’s car.
10:52 p.m.: Police on social media name Robert Card as a “person of interest” in the shootings and release his photo.
Around 11:30 p.m.: Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck says a “vehicle of interest” was found in Lisbon, about 8 miles from Lewiston, but the person of interest remains at large.
11:34 p.m.: Lisbon officials say all town offices will be closed on Thursday and tell people to keep sheltering in place.
A news conference about the mass shooting will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lewiston City Hall, according to Maine State Police public information officer Shannon Moss.
Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for Robert Card, who Lewiston police identified as "a person of interest" and said should be “considered armed and dangerous.
Schemengees Bar and Grill, one of the two locations targeted by a mass shooter in Lewiston, Maine, posted a message of grief on its Facebook page early Thursday morning.
“My heart is crushed. I am at a loss for words. In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason,” the post said. “We loss (sic) great people in this community. How can we make any sense of this. Sending out prayers to everyone.”
A manhunt is underway for Robert Card, 40, who is being sought as a person of interest in the shootings, Lewiston police said around 11 p.m. ET, adding he “should be considered armed and dangerous.”
Wednesday's shootings took place at two locations in Lewiston, Maine — a bowling alley and a restaurant.
Sparetime Recreation, the bowling alley, had families enjoying the evening playing games when the shooting began. Eyewitnesses described seeing people, including children, flee from the location and being patted down outside by police officers. There was also footage of first responders loading a victim into an ambulance outside the business,
The business lies just off the main highway that runs through Lewiston, with an arcade and grill that serves food, according to its website. It regularly hosts special events throughout the week such as "Senior Day" with discounted prices for seniors, and "Glow Bowling" with a DJ.
Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, the second shooting location, hosts parties, family celebrations and corporate events — with an arcade area that includes dart boards and pool tables, according to its website. The restaurant is equipped with 10 pool tables, 14 dart boards and dozens of TVs to catch all the major sporting events, the bar, the website says.
CNN has reached out to both Schemengees and Sparetime Recreation but has yet to hear back.
A law enforcement officer carries a rifle outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, on October 25. Steven Senne/AP
An intensive manhunt is underway in Maine after two mass shootings left at least 22 people dead and dozens injured on Wednesday night.
Here's what we know so far:
What happened: There were two active shooting incidents in the city of Lewiston — at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley on Mollison Way, and Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street, according to Lewiston police. State officials say the shootings began around 6:56 p.m. ET. Eyewitnesses described seeing people running away from the bowling alley. Lewiston is about 36 miles north of Portland and is the state’s second-largest city.
A "person of interest": Lewiston police have identified 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin as a person of interest, saying he should be “considered armed and dangerous." Law enforcement officials in Maine say Card is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserve. Card had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine, and also reported mental health issues, including hearing voices, the officials said.
Photo of the person of interest: The sheriff’s office released images of a “suspect for identification.” The person was seen in brown clothing, holding a high-powered assault-style rifle.
The car: Police also shared an image of the vehicle they're looking for — a small white SUV with a front bumper believed to be painted black — which Maine State Police confirmed is the suspect's car.
The manhunt: Maine officials say hundreds of police officers are now working across the state to locate Card, the public was urged to contact law enforcement if they have information about his whereabouts. Residents are being told to continue sheltering in place.
This post has been updated with more details on the "person of interest."
A road sign reads 'Shelter in Place' after a man reportedly opened fire killing and injuring numerous people in downtown Lewiston, Maine, on October 25. CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lewiston, Maine, is a small city — with a population of just 38,493 people as of last year, according to the US Census.
It's home to Bates College, a private liberal arts school, and is regularly ranked as one of America's safest cities.
“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 a statement late Wednesday, referring to the mass shooting.
Lewiston is the second biggest city in Maine, after Portland, and sits on the banks of the Androscoggin River.
And though Maine is the whitest state in the nation, according to the 2020 census, immigrant communities have grown in size recently, as well as in other states including Minnesota, Ohio, and Washington.
Between 2017 and 2021, more than 7% of Lewiston residents were foreign-born, according to the census — still lower than the national average of nearly 14%. And in those years, 19% of Lewiston residents spoke a language other than English at home.
As police continue to search for a person of interest involved in the Lewiston shootings, which left at least 22 dead Wednesday night, local schools have announced they will cancel classes on Thursday.
"There remains a lot of unknowns at this time. Information moves quickly but not always accurately. Please continue to shelter in place or get to safety. We will continue to update you with information and next steps as appropriate,” Lewiston Public Schoolssaid in a post.
“Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them. Our prayers go out to those who lost someone tonight. Our prayers go out to all those working to stop further loss of life.”
A number of other nearby schools and districts also announced they would be closed or have classes canceled on Thursday:
Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, October 25. Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Town offices in Lisbon, which neighbors Lewiston, Maine, where the shootings took place Wednesday night, will be closed on Thursday as a manhunt continues for the suspect in two mass shootings.
"Law enforcement in Androscoggin County are investigating two active shooter events. All town offices will be closed on October 26th. Please prioritize safety and continue to shelter in place," the town website said.
The vehicle connected to Robert Card, identified by police as a person of interest, was located in Lisbon Wednesday night, according to Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck.
Jason Levesque speaks during an interview. WGME
Witnesses of the shootings in Lewiston were of all ages, including teenagers, said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque, adding that the community was in shock.
Auburn is a city less than 2 miles west of Lewiston.
Speaking to media outside a reunification center, Levesque said there was a lot of fear, panic and worry among residents there.
“You can train for this but you can never be completely prepared,” Levesque said. “It’s an all-hands-on-deck situation.”
Speaking to CNN later that night, Levesque said he wasn't aware of any children among those killed — but knows one high school student who was wounded.
"Auburn and Lewiston are side by side ... a river separates us. Combined, our population is around 60,000. You cannot help but know people who know someone, so this will impact every corner of our community," he said.
He described hearing more about what unfolded Wednesday night from eyewitnesses at the reunification center, including one man who was playing the lawn game cornhole when he heard "a couple pops ... but didn't think anything of it, it is Halloween. Then he started seeing everybody scream and move."
Authorities across Maine are involved in the ongoing manhunt, with 40-year-old Robert Card identified as a person of interest.
This post has been updated with more comments from the mayor
