Grieving Maine Communities Under Stay-at-Home Orders as Manhunt for Suspect Persists
Maine communities remain in mourning after a devastating shooting rampage, as residents are urged to stay at home while a large-scale manhunt for the suspect unfolds
In the wake of a tragic shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Maine, where 18 lives were lost, officials are urging thousands of residents to remain in their homes on Friday. This precaution is necessary as a extensive manhunt for the suspect, Robert Card, is underway. Given that Card is deemed armed and dangerous, numerous establishments, including schools and businesses, have been closed to ensure public safety. Law enforcement officers are actively searching various areas in southern Maine in their pursuit of Card.
The horror commenced at approximately 7 p.m. on Wednesday in the city of Lewiston. According to authorities, Card initiated gunfire at Just-in-Time Recreation and later targeted Schemengees Bar & Grille. Maine Gov. Janet Mills revealed on Thursday that, apart from the tragic 18 fatalities, 13 individuals sustained injuries.
Following the shooting and subsequent manhunt, shelter-in-place orders were issued for Androscoggin and northern Sagadahoc counties. These counties encompass Lewiston, as well as the nearby communities of Auburn and Lisbon.
Cory, a Lisbon resident, expressed his nervousness as he kept a watchful eye on the nearby woods while his 10-year-old daughter was safe inside their home. When he saw the police presence in the area, it provided him with immense relief.
The massacre that took place on Wednesday night appears to be the most devastating mass shooting in the United States this year. It is also the worst incident since a gunman tragically took the lives of 19 students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas, last year. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been a total of 566 mass shootings across the country this year, where four or more individuals, excluding the shooter, have been shot.
Card, 40, is facing an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder, according to the police. On Thursday, law enforcement authorities twice reached Card's last known residence in Bowdoin, Maine, approximately 15 miles east of Lewiston.
In the evening, investigators suspected the presence of something inside or near the house, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement, as per an official. A CNN crew on the scene overheard an officer instructing Card to "come out with your hands up." However, this incident concluded without any major events, with authorities concluding their operations two hours later. The Maine State Police confirmed that their work for the night was finished at the location.
A woman is hugged by a man at a reunification center at Auburn Middle School, in Auburn, Maine, after shootings in Lewiston on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Derek Davis/AP
Heres a timeline of the mass shooting in Maine and the ongoing manhunt for a suspect
Earlier on Thursday, law enforcement sources informed CNN that a search warrant was carried out at the suspect's residence, specifically targeting computers, notes, weapons, and any potential evidence pertaining to a planned shooting.
As authorities discovered the suspect's abandoned vehicle approximately 8 miles away from Lewiston in Lisbon, a law enforcement official informed CNN that a firearm was found. It is yet to be determined if this weapon was utilized in the shooting incident.
Bowdoin is expected to be revisited by authorities for further investigation, according to Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
The search for Card may face obstacles due to his extensive combat training. Law enforcement officials in Maine informed CNN that Card is a certified firearms instructor and serves as a member of the US Army Reserve. Prior to the shooting, he had made threats about conducting a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine, and had reported mental health concerns, such as auditory hallucinations, as stated by the officials.
Katherine Schweit, a previous high-ranking FBI official, stated on Thursday evening that Card holds a distinctive advantage.
"He is on his home turf, and we are entering his domain to locate him in a game of hide and seek. He possesses knowledge about what he is seeking and where he intends to head," Schweit informed CNN's Kaitlan Collins. "He has devised a plan, and law enforcement has the obligation to pursue those clues wherever they may surface until he decides to halt. Thus, if he continues, that is precisely what we are up against."
Law enforcement surround a house in Bowdoin, Maine, as they continue their manhunt on Thursday, October 26.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
A member of law enforcement walks with a police dog outside a property in Bowdoin on Thursday.
Steven Senne/AP
Jess Paquette holds a sign showing her support in Lewiston, Maine, on October 26.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
A pedestrian crosses a virtually empty street in Portland, Maine, on Thursday. The shootings took place about 36 miles north of the city.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
Law enforcement personnel work outside Schemengees Bar and Grille on Thursday.
CJ Gunther/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Law enforcement officials gather at Lisbon High School at dawn on Thursday, resuming their search for the suspect involved in the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine.
Dexter Britton, 9, looks out through a window in Lisbon Falls, Maine, on Thursday. The Lisbon area has been under a shelter in place order since Wednesday night.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Maine Gov. Janet Mills, center, speaks during a news conference at Lewiston City Hall on Thursday.
Steven Senne/AP
A police officer speaks to a driver at a roadblock in Lisbon on Thursday.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
Law enforcement officials load into a tactical vehicle at Lisbon High School on Thursday.
Jessica Rinaldi/Boston Globe/Getty Images
Police officers patrol around the hospital in Lewiston on Thursday.
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A man and woman embrace at the reunification center at Auburn Middle School in Auburn, Maine, after the mass shootings in Lewiston on Wednesday, October 25.
Derek Davis/AP
Police close Lincoln Street leading to Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston.
Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters
The rampage began shortly before 7 p.m. and fueled calls for everyone in Lewiston to shelter in place as hundreds of officers searched for the gunman.
Nicholas Pfosi/Reuters
Maria Wilson reacts while speaking to reporters at the reunification center at Auburn Middle School about the unknown status of her loved one on Wednesday.
Michael G. Seamans/For The Boston Globe
Stretchers are lined up outside the emergency room at the Central Maine Medical Center.
Derek Davis/AP
People stand outside the reunification center at Auburn Middle School.
Steven Senne/AP
A helicopter searches an area of Lewiston on Wednesday.
Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald/AP
People depart an emergency room entrance at the Central Maine Medical Center.
Steven Senne/AP
A police officer stands guard in front of the Central Maine Medical Center.
CJ Gunther/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Police respond to the scene in Lewiston.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
In pictures: Mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine
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Victims mourned
The names of some victims who were killed Wednesday night have been released.
According to Tricia Asselin's brother, DJ Johnson, Tricia was present at the bowling alley on Wednesday night for recreational bowling when gunshots were fired. Johnson stated that when the incident occurred, Tricia immediately ran to the counter to call 911, but tragically, she was shot during her attempt to seek help. Johnson shared that Tricia's instinct was to assist rather than flee, highlighting her courageous nature.
Asselin, aged 53, had a son who held immense significance in her life, according to Johnson. "Her son was her utmost priority, from the moment he came into this world till yesterday. She devoted herself entirely to him... he was everything to her," expressed Johnson.
Asselin's sister, Bobbi Nichols, was also present at the bowling alley during the shooting incident. However, she managed to escape the rampage, according to Johnson. CNN affiliate WMTW confirmed that Tommy Conrad, a 34-year-old manager at the bowling alley, was tragically killed on Wednesday. Conrad left behind a 9-year-old daughter.
Lewiston Police Department identified Robert Card as a "person of interest" involved in the Lewiston shooting.
Lewiston Police Department
Here's the information we have on the suspect involved in the Maine mass shooting:
According to Bryan MacFarlane's sister, Keri Brooks, he was tragically killed on Wednesday while participating in a cornhole tournament at the restaurant. MacFarlane, who was part of the local deaf community, would often frequent Schemengees on Wednesdays, as it was a day when other deaf individuals would gather to play the game. He is survived by his mother and sister.
Brooks, 40, shared that she was raised in Maine where the deaf community is known for its strong bonds. She revealed that not only did she lose her brother to violence, but she also sadly discovered that her friends were also victims. Additionally, Brooks mentioned that MacFarlane, who was 40 years old, was among the leading pioneers in Vermont's deaf community to obtain a commercial trucking drivers license.
According to Ralph Brewer, Peyton Brewer-Ross attended the cornhole tournament where he tragically lost his life. He had a deep passion for the game and cherished the moments spent with his friends at the restaurant.
Being a father to two children meant the world to Brewer-Ross, as per his brother's statement. He immensely enjoyed the role of a dad and recently celebrated his daughter's second birthday a few weeks prior.
"Waking up, she immediately asked her mom, Rachel (Sloat), 'Where's daddy, where's daddy?'" Brewer said. "Although she's only 2 years old and won't remember any of this, it's heartbreaking that she won't have her father around for the rest of her life."
This report was contributed to by CNN's Shimon Prokupecz, John Miller, Travis Nichols, Amanda Jackson, David Williams, Caroll Alvarado, Eric Levenson, Maria Santana, Joe Sutton, Sara Smart, Brian Todd, Evan Perez, Macie Goldfarb, Maria Sole Campinoti, Andy Rose, Josh Campbell, and Chris Boyette.
