Maine authorities to search river for suspect in Lewiston mass shootings

LEWISTON, Maine. (WLNE) — Maine authorities will search a river and wooded area as they try to find the suspect connected to the mass shootings in Lewiston this week.

Law enforcement said in a media briefing Friday that they will search the Androscoggin River in the area where the white Subaru belonging to Robert Card was found.

“Everybody is dialed in,” said Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck. “We need to bring this individual to custody, but we have to do it right. We have to do it the safe way. We don’t want to be rushed but we are running right on that level-working as fast and hard as we can, with as many resources as we can to bring this to a close.”

Sauschuck said police received more than 500 tips on where Card could be. He noted the investigation into the mass killing and Card’s location is active and ongoing.

“We are on 24 hours, and we will be, until the suspect in this case is brought to justice,” he said.

Sauschuck said law enforcement is not sure if Card is dead or alive. He said authorities are looking into all possibilities.

Card, 40, is wanted in connection to Wednesday’s shootings that killed 18 people and injured 13.

A quiet night in a peaceful city turned into a nightmare when a gunman entered Just-In-Time Recreation with an AR-15 firearm.

ABC News reports that a relative of Card told investigators that she thought he may have been going after an ex-girlfriend at the bowling alley.

Seven people were killed at Just-In-Time. Shortly after, eight more were killed after the gunman moved to Schemengees Bar & Grill.

Three others died at area hospitals.

The Lewiston, Lisbon, Auburn, and Bowdoin communities have come together in mourning.

Lewiston artist Miia Zellner wrote meaningful messages on paper hearts, displaying them on trees along Main Street.

“I’ve been a lot of emotions about the whole thing, and it inspired me to create something physical out of it, and I just have so much love for the city and the community that I wanted to make a physical representation of that, so that people in Lewiston can see that and get some type of positivity out of it,” she said.

She, like many people in Maine and around the country, was left shaken by the tragedy.

“It was a total shock. I have always felt super safe in Lewiston,” Zellner said. “It was just totally unexpected that anything like this would happen here.”

Card and his family have lived in Bowdoin for years. Law enforcement surrounded a family home tied to Card for hours on Thursday night, but did not find him.

Card is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who believes they know where he is should call 911 immediately.

The city plans on holding a briefing every day at 10 a.m. until Card is found.