A Timeline of Mass Shootings in Maine: Unraveling the Hunt for a Suspect

Governor Janet Mills disclosed that eighteen individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident of mass shooting that occurred on Wednesday night in Lewiston, Maine. As a result, a manhunt has been launched by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to locate the perpetrator responsible for the attack.

Law enforcement officials in Maine have designated 40-year-old Robert Card as a "person of interest" in the case. They have cautioned that Card, who possesses both firearms expertise as a certified instructor and military affiliation with the US Army Reserves, should be considered armed and dangerous.

Heres a timeline of how the shooting and the manhunthave unfolded so far.

Around 7 p.m. Wednesday: 2 shootings are reported

Authorities were initially alerted to two separate shooting incidents in Lewiston at 6:56 p.m. on Wednesday, as declared by Mike Sauschuck, the commissioner of Maine's Department of Public Safety, during a subsequent news conference that evening.

A law enforcement officer carries a rifle outside Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday.

Steven Senne/AP

A manhunt is currently underway following a tragic mass shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine. According to officials, at least 16 individuals have lost their lives in this horrifying incident. The Lewiston Police have clarified that the shootings occurred at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley that was recently renamed as Just-in-Time Recreation. Additionally, another location, Schemengees Bar & Grille, located approximately four miles away, was also targeted in the shooting spree.

Nichoel Wyman Arel recounted to CNN her experience as she and her daughter were returning home from a Girl Scouts meeting. They unexpectedly stumbled upon a distressing scene at the bowling alley, where they witnessed police vehicles with flashing lights and frantic individuals. Arel noticed an individual who appeared to be drenched in blood.

"I observed children," she shared. "In hindsight, the most challenging aspect was witnessing numerous families, pouring out of the establishment, fully aware that an unfortunate incident had occurred while they were likely just trying to enjoy a pleasant evening together."

At 8 p.m., the Androscoggin County Sheriffs Office announced its investigation into two active shooter incidents. Approximately an hour later, the office shared photos of a person of interest on their Facebook page.

Those images showed a man walking into what appeared to be a bowling alley, holding a high-powered, assault-style rifle.

8:09 p.m.: State Police order people to remain indoors

Maine State Police have confirmed the presence of an active shooter in Lewiston and are advising the public to remain indoors, ensuring that their doors are securely locked. Authorities are currently conducting investigations at various locations, and they urge residents to refrain from venturing onto the streets, emphasizing the need to give law enforcement space to resolve the situation.

At 8:26 p.m., residents were urged by officials of the neighboring city, Auburn, to "shelter in place" in a notification posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Auburn is located directly west of Lewiston, separated by the Androscoggin River.

"Residents of Auburn and Lewiston are highly advised to stay indoors, secure all entry points, and immediately notify 9-1-1 of any individuals or activities of a suspicious nature," the alert stated.

9:17 p.m.: Authorities share a photograph of a vehicle that is considered relevant to the investigation.

Lewiston Police made a prompt release of a Facebook post, approximately two hours after receiving the initial shooting reports. The post consisted of an image of a white vehicle, urging individuals to contact the authorities if spotted. According to Maine State Police, the vehicle depicted in the image was linked to a person of interest.

The image shared by Lewiston Police showed the vehicle, an SUV, with its lights on and its driver side door ajar.

10:52 p.m.: Authorities name "person of interest"

Lewiston Police released another Facebook announcement stating that they were actively searching for Card. He is considered a person of interest in the shootings at Schemengees Bar and the bowling alley. The post included a picture of Card and emphasized that he should be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone has any information on his whereabouts, they are urged to contact law enforcement.

Police are seen near Schemengees Bar in Lewiston, Maine, on Thursday, the morning after a shooting there.

Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images

Around 11:30 p.m.: Official says vehicle was found

Sauschuck conducted a news briefing late on Wednesday, commencing shortly after 11:30 p.m., during which he announced that law enforcement had discovered a vehicle of significance in Lisbon, Maine - a town situated approximately 8 miles southeast of Lewiston.

During the briefing, Sauschuck also stated that the shelter in place order would be extended to include Lisbon. It was confirmed by the city, around the same time, that its offices would remain closed on Thursday.

"We have a significant number of police officers diligently working throughout the state of Maine in order to investigate this case and locate Mr. Card. It is important to note that Mr. Card is currently being considered as a person of interest and nothing more," stated Sauschuck.

Sauschuck highlighted the extensive scope of the investigation, revealing that there were numerous locations within the city, including multiple hospitals, that were being thoroughly examined. Furthermore, investigators were actively pursuing leads and conducting interviews with witnesses, Sauschuck added.

At 3:13 a.m. on Thursday, the shelter in place advisory was extended to encompass Bowdoin, a town located approximately 15 miles southeast of Lewiston and about nine miles to the east of Lisbon. Maine State Police made this decision.

"State police have urged residents to remain indoors as over 100 local and federal investigators collaborate to track down Robert Card, a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings," read a Facebook post.

Following the ongoing manhunt for Card, several school districts, including those in Lewiston and the public schools in Portland - the largest city in the state, located around 35 miles south of Lewiston - have announced closures for Thursday.

Hannaford Supermarkets, a major grocery store chain in the northeast, said it would keep all of its stores in Maine closed until at least 10 a.m.

CNNs Nouran Salahieh contributed to this report.