At least 16 people are believed to have died in several separate shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday evening, police sources said.
According to a preliminary report cited by the American television network CNN, between 50 and 60 people were also injured in these incidents. It is currently unknown how many of these victims were shot.
“We are currently experiencing an active shooter incident. Please stay off the roads to allow emergency responders to access hospitals,” the local Lewinston police briefly indicated on social media, sharing photos of the potential suspect, who is still on the run, as well as those of his vehicle.
PHOTO FROM LEWISTON POLICE FACEBOOK PAGE
This Subaru Outback was identified as the suspect’s vehicle.
A photo of a vehicle believed to be the one the suspect allegedly used was also shared online. Police said they believe the front bumper of this car may be painted black.
For the moment, three sectors have been formally identified by the authorities as locations targeted by shootings. These are Schemengees, a restaurant located on Lincoln Street, Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley on Mollison Way, and a Walmart distribution center on Alfred A. Plourde Parkway.
From the first calls to 911, Maine State Police asked people to take shelter and stay inside their homes, with the doors locked, specifying that several distinct locations are under investigation in progress.
According to CNN, the FBI even offered personnel and resources to local authorities in Maine due to the seriousness and scale of the event. Central Maine Medical Center, for its part, confirmed that it was dealing with a mass shooting.
PHOTO ROBERT F. BUKATY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Many police officers were deployed to the scene.
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, was made aware of the situation, the White House said in the evening. On X, the governor of the State of Maine, Janet Mills, also confirmed that she was following the matter closely. “I urge everyone living in the area to follow state and local guidelines. I will continue to monitor the situation and stay in close contact with public security officials,” she briefly emphasized.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul quickly denounced the loss of more lives to gun violence. “Weapons of war have no place on American streets. How many more gun deaths do we have to endure before this country comes to its senses? “, she asked herself.
Lewiston is a city of around 36,000 residents located in southern Maine, not far from Portland. It is also the second largest city in this American state which shares a border with Quebec. Approximately 240 kilometers separate Lewiston from the city of Sherbrooke, Quebec.