Maine shooting: 20 feared dead as police hunt for suspect Robert Card
At least 20 people are feared to have been killed after a shooting in the US state of Maine, with the suspect – a firearms instructor – still at large.
Authorities in Lewiston are investigating “two active shooter events” and have warned people to stay inside, away from windows, with doors locked.
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Moments after mass shooting in Maine
Police have released images of a man with a military-style assault rifle in a bowling alley and say they are looking for “armed and dangerous” Robert Card.
The 40-year-old, with 20 years military service, worked as an army firearms instructor and recently spent time at a mental health facility after hearing voices, according to an internal police notice.
Police officers, many armed with rifles, have taken up positions across the city, and roads have been shut as the manhunt continues.
Police have released images of the suspect. Pic: Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office
The suspect is 40-year-old Robert Card. Pic: Lewiston Police Department
According to law enforcement sources, between 15 to 20 people are believed to have been killed.
NBC News earlier reported 22 fatalities, citing a Lewiston police source.
As many as 50 people are also said to have been injured, not all of whom were shot. Some reportedly had injuries from a stampede.
Pic: Lewiston Police Department
Pic: Lewiston Police Department
Police say the shootings happened at about 7pm on Wednesday at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley – which are situated about four miles apart.
They also posted a photo of a white Subaru they want to find out more details about, which was later found in the nearby town of Lisbon where residents have also been told to stay at home.
This photo, released by police, shows a vehicle officers are seeking information on in connection to the shooting: Pic: Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP
One witness, who identified himself only as Brandon, was at the bowling alley and described how the gunman appeared “out of nowhere” and was “15 feet behind me” when he heard “a loud pop” and the first of several gunshots.
“As soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon and he was holding a weapon, I just booked it down the lane,” he said.
“I slid basically into where the pins are and climbed up into the machine, and was on top of the machines for about 10 minutes before the cops got there.”
Families have gathered in the neighbouring city of Auburn, Maine, to be reunited with their loved ones. Pic: Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via AP
He was among survivors who were driven to the neighbouring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.
I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he added.
Sky’s US correspondent Martha Kelner said the owner of the bowling alley says it was packed at the time with at least 100 people, including around 20 children.
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‘My son was at the bar and we’ve heard nothing’
Central Maine Medical Center referred to a “mass casualty, mass shooter event” but did not give numbers.
Off-duty staff, doctors and nurses have been asked to come in to work to deal with the number of casualties.
Hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles to the south, have been placed on alert to potentially receive victims.
Maine’s public health commissioner, Mike Sauschuck, confirmed multiple casualties but also said he didn’t have a precise figure.
He said “hundreds” of police are looking for “person of interest” Robert Card.
Stretchers are lined up outside Central Maine Medical Center. Pic: Derek Davis/Portland Press/via AP
Kelner said information released by officials suggested the gunman was a member of the US Army Reserve suffering from mental health issues, who had threatened to carry out a shooting at a training facility in Saco, Maine, which he was assigned to.
“Questions will come down the road about just why and how he was able to maintain ownership of such a powerful weapon,” she said.
Read more: What we know about Maine shooting suspect
President Joe Biden has been briefed and spoke to the state’s governor to offer full federal support, the White House said.
Police are searching the city of Lewiston and surrounding areas of Maine state for the gunman. Pic: AP
Governor Janet Mills echoed police instructions for residents to stay off the streets and businesses to lockdown or close until authorities give the all-clear.
Superintendent Jake Langlais said schools would be shut on Thursday, adding: “Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them.”
The shootings took place at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley – situated about four miles apart in Lewiston, Maine
The mayor of Auburn – located just across the Androscoggin River – told reporters witnesses “of all ages” including teenagers are being interviewed at an undisclosed safe location.
Jason Levesque added families gathering at a school in the city are being told whether their loved ones, who had been at the bar and bowling alley, are among the casualties.
“There’s fear, there’s panic,” he said, adding: “Something like this doesn’t just get solved overnight and nobody can expect it to. But we’ve got a really strong community. We’ve overcome a lot and we’ll overcome this.”
Lewiston is a city of about 35,000 people in the far northeast of the US.
Maine has one of the lowest per capita murder rates in America, with state police recording only 29 homicides in 2022.
Before Wednesday’s incident, the deadliest US mass shooting of 2023 was in Monterey Park, California, where 11 people were murdered during a Chinese New Year event.
Israel pounded the outskirts of Gaza City overnight, as Benjamin Netanyahu’s government vowed to press on with a planned offensive on the city.
Families streamed out of the city as the explosions hit.
“I stopped counting the times I had to take my wife and three daughters and leave my home in Gaza City,” said Mohammad, 40.
“No place is safe, but I can’t take the risk. If they suddenly begin the invasion, they will use heavy fire.”
Mahmoud Abedrabo mourns over the body of his son Hamada in Gaza City on 24 August. Pic: Reuters
Others said they would prefer to die and not leave.
“We are not leaving, let them bomb us at home,” said Aya, 31, who has a family of eight, adding that they couldn’t afford to buy a tent or pay for the transportation.
“We are hungry, afraid and don’t have money,” she said.
Mourners pray next to the body of Palestinian boy Hamada Abedrabo on 24 August. Pic: Reuters
Witnesses said that overnight they heard nonstop explosions in Zeitoun and Shejaia.
Tanks shelled houses and roads in Sabra, and buildings were blown up in Jabalia.
On Sunday, the IDF said its forces had returned to combat in Jabalia to strengthen its control of the area and dismantle militant tunnels.
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike in Gaza City. Pic: Reuters
It added that the operation there “enables the expansion of combat into additional areas and prevents Hamas terrorists from returning to operate in these areas.”
This month, Israel approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City. The offensive isn’t expected to start for another few weeks.
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In the meantime, mediators in Egypt and Qatar are trying to resume ceasefire talks between the two sides.
On Friday, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said that Gaza City will be razed unless Hamas releases all its remaining hostages and ends the war on Israel’s terms.
Mourners transport the body of Ahmed Balata on 24 August. Pic: Reuters
Around half of Gaza’s two million residents currently live in the city and on Friday a global hunger monitor said that Gaza City and its surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine that will likely spread.
Israel said the monitor ignores steps Israel has taken since late July to increase aid supplies into and across Gaza.
Eight more people died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry on Saturday.
281 people, including 114 children, have now died of malnutrition and starvation since the war started, according to the ministry.
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel, mainly civilians, and took 251 hostages.
Since then, Israel has killed at least 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, and internally displaced nearly its entire population.
Two married couples have died after a British car veered off the road and crashed in Germany, according to police.
The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight on Saturday in the trees near a highway in the Kassel district, north of Hesse in central Germany.
The 32-year-old male driver, a 31-year-old female passenger, a 32-year-old female passenger, and a 30-year-old female passenger all died at the scene, despite the efforts of German emergency services.
Sky News understands UK officials have not been contacted for assistance.
At roughly 12.30am on Saturday, the car appears to have veered off the road and crashed into nearby trees around 30m from the road, according to the Kassel police department.
Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen
One of the victim’s phones automatically alerted the emergency services to the incident, who sent an ambulance to the scene.
Soon, fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and emergency support vehicles were all dispatched.
When emergency workers arrived, the car was lying on its side, wedged between several trees.
It wasn’t until they removed the roof that they found all four passengers.
Pic: Feuerwehr Reinhardshagen
The accident happened on Highway L3229
The emergency workers who dealt with the victims were immediately supported by the specialist mental health workers at the fire station in Reinhardshagen.
“This high number of deaths is an extraordinary operation for our Reinhardshagen Volunteer Fire Department,” said a fire department spokesperson.
“For some of the emergency personnel, it is the first time they have been confronted with death in this way.
“Therefore, a great deal is being done to help us process these images. We will also discuss this among ourselves and within families, because not everyone can easily shake off what they have seen.”
An investigation into the accident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Hofgeismar police station.
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