At least 22 people were killed in several gun attacks in the US state of Maine on Wednesday (local time). There were also up to 60 injuries. The shooter was on the run, according to local authorities and various American media. According to police, the suspected perpetrator was located in the city of Lewiston. However, there was initially no official confirmation of the number of victims.
However, Lewiston City Council member Robert McCarthy told CNN that according to the city council’s findings, there were already 22 deaths and “many, many more injured.” McCarthy said the small town’s hospitals are not equipped to handle a situation like this: “They do what they can.” The situation is surreal. “It’s just so surreal. You see it on the news and tell yourself it will never happen here. And then it happens here and it just blows your mind.”
The shooter hit three crime scenes
Police authorities in the city of Lewiston and Androscoggin County said emergency crews responded to gun attacks at several locations. The local newspaper Sun Journal, citing a police spokesperson, reported three crime scenes: a bowling alley, a restaurant and a Walmart distribution center.
Police have released surveillance footage of a suspected shooter and asked the public for help identifying the suspect pictured, a bearded man in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans holding a rifle in a firing position.
The suspect is a certified firearms instructor
According to CNN, the suspect is 40-year-old Robert Card, a certified firearms instructor and U.S. Army reservist. He is said to have recently threatened to attack a National Guard facility in Saco (also in the US state of Maine). According to the police, he has psychological problems and hears voices that do not exist.
Perpetrator still on the run
It was said that the suspect had not yet been caught. Residents in the area were urged to seek safety. The hospital in Lewiston spoke of ‘numerous victims’. It collaborates with surrounding hospitals to accommodate all patients.
Lewiston, with a population of about 37,000, is part of Androscoggin County and is located about 35 miles north of Portland, Maine’s largest city.
In the US, disasters and deadly shootings are unfortunately part of everyday life. Firearms are readily available and widely distributed in the United States. Bloody attacks with many victims regularly shake the country.
Biden promises support after ‘terrible attack’
The White House said US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the incident and would continue to be kept informed. He spoke on the phone with Maine Governor Janet Mills and members of Congress from the state, offering full federal support after the “terrible attack.” Biden was hosting a state banquet for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at US government headquarters on Wednesday evening as the attack took place in Maine.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
