A heavily armed police force encircled a residence on Thursday while conducting a manhunt for a military reservist suspected of perpetrating a massacre at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, that left at least 18 people dead on Oct. 25.
“You need to come outside now with nothing in your hands. Your hands in the air,” police shouted instructions through a megaphone outside the residence.
Many law enforcement officials had swarmed the property, broadcasting extensive announcements instructing Mr. Card and any inhabitants of the house to come out onto the driveway.
Police Aren’t Sure If Suspect Is Inside
In a Facebook post released shortly after the siege, the Maine State Police conveyed their uncertainty about Mr. Card’s location inside the residence.“Law enforcement officials are currently on Meadow Road in the town of Bowdoin to execute several search warrants. The announcements that are being heard over a loudspeaker are standard search warrant announcements when executing a warrant to ensure the safety of all involved. It is unknown whether Robert Card is in any of the homes law enforcement will search.
“Law enforcement officials are simply doing their due diligence by tracking down every lead in an effort to locate and apprehend Card,” the statement read.
In an earlier post, the police had verified the number of fatalities resulting from the Wednesday shooting incident.
As of now, the death toll at Sparetime Recreation has reached seven, whereas at Schemengees Bar and Grille, the number of lives lost has risen to eight.
Three more people passed away after being taken to Central Maine Medical Hospital in Lewiston for medical care.
An additional 13 people sustained injuries in the shootings.
The search, according to Maine police, involves over 350 law enforcement personnel.
Biden Calls for Stricter Gun Laws
On Thursday, President Joe Biden ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff out of respect for all the victims.“Work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers,” President Biden said.
“Maine state police have issued a shelter in place order for Lewiston, Lisbon, and Bowdoin as the manhunt for that person of interest, Robert B. Card of Bowdoin, continues,” she said. “I will let law enforcement speak to the ongoing manhunt and to their investigation, but Card is considered armed and dangerous, and police advise that Maine people should not approach him under any circumstances.”
State Officials Pledge Support to Maine
Leaders in other states have also extended condolences and offered support to the residents of the northeasternmost U.S. state.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
