Live updates: 1 of 18 confirmed victims identified by family; police searching suspect's family property

Oct. 26—Several Hannaford locations remain closed

12:06 p.m. Hannaford kept its Maine grocery stores closed until 10 a.m. Thursday, except for these stores that remained closed until further notice: Lewiston, Auburn, Mechanic Falls, Turner, Brunswick (Cook's Corner, Elm Street), Topsham, Gray and Yarmouth. — Jason Claffey (Times Record)

Mt. Ararat fotball, soccer postponed

12:02 p.m. The eight-man football Large School South semifinal game Friday night between Mt. Ararat and Greely has been postponed, MTA Athletic Director Geoff Godo announced Thursday.

Godo also announced the postponement of the Class A North girls soccer semifinal game Saturday between Mt. Ararat and Bangor.

"Details regarding makeup of these games as well as the completion of the Edward Little-MTA boys soccer playoff game will be shared when appropriate," Godo wrote in an e-mail.

The EL-MTA boys soccer game was suspended Wednesday night with the teams heading into overtime. — Bill Stewart (Central Maine)

Police investigate at Card properties in Bowdoin

11:57 a.m. At the corner of West Road and Wood Schoolhouse Road in Bowdoin, police from several different agencies were on the scene Thursday morning, directing traffic away from the area and sending people back in the direction they came.

Public records indicate one or more of the nearby properties belong to Robert Card or his parents.

Around 11 a.m., police could be heard over a bullhorn ordering people out of a home several times.

Along West Road, where homes sit on large, heavily wooded lots, residents said knew of Card but not well, and they declined to be quoted. — Jessica Lowell (Kennebec Journal)

Witness describes bowling alley shooting

11:52 a.m. There were about two dozen people from on Chad Vincent's bowling league playing at Sparetime Wednesday night.

Vincent said he was just starting the fifth frame when he "heard a big pop" around 7 p.m., he said. After the second pop, his bowling partner yelled "he's got a gun" and they scattered, running out the back entrance toward Marcos Italian Restaurant

He called 911 as he ran and the police were there within four minutes, he said.

There were about 10 other lanes of people bowling who weren't there for the league, including children, Vincent said.

Vincent said one of his teammates was shot and killed while she was working behind the counter. Her sister was there, subbing for her on the team.

Another man who was killed used to play in his league, Vincent said. — Emily Allen (Press Herald)

All BMV locations closed

11:50 a.m. All Bureau of Motor Vehicle locations are closed Thursday, according to the secretary of state's office.

"In order for our customer-facing staff to feel safe and secure, we are closing BMV branches across the state, and sending staff home to be with family," Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in a statement. — Gillian Graham (Press Herald)

Maine Chamber cancels awards banquet

11:49 a.m. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is cancelling their annual awards banquet because of the mass shooting.

"The senseless, unspeakable scale of violence has taken loved ones away from families and punctured the tranquility of the famously tight Lewiston-Auburn community," said Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "Our attention, hearts, and prayers are with the victims of this tragedy, their loved ones, and the community of Lewiston and Auburn. We thank local, state, and federal law enforcement and join the entire State in mourning this devastating tragedy." — Randy Billings (Press Herald)

Lewiston pastor says people are looking for answers

11:46 a.m. Pastor Aaron Davis of Calvary Chapel Lewiston/Auburn headed over Thursday morning to a family reunification center established at Auburn Middle School to see if he could help.

His stepbrother, who is deaf, was playing cornhole at Schemengees Bar & Grille with some friends. He never heard the shots that killed two of his friends and put another in the hospital.

Davis said he found "a lot of confused, broken and hurting people" at the school struggling to understand what they were going through.

People were "looking for answers and clarity — and they found none," Davis said.

Davis said he talked with a family that raced out of the bowling alley with their 10-year-old daughter and another girl and hid in the woods until they thought it was safe to emerge.

Another woman was seeking information about her son who had been living in a car in the Spare Time parking lot. She didn't find anything. — Steve Collins (Sun Journal)

Victim identified: Bob Violette, 76

11:38 a.m. Bob Violette, a 76-year-old retired Sears mechanic and avid bowler was among the victims, according to his daughter-in-law.

Violette was born and raised in Lewiston and grew up speaking French and attending Catholic church. He married Lucy Violette almost 50 years ago and had three sons, Andrew, Tom, and John, and six grandchildren.

He bowled most weekday mornings and participated in a couple's bowling league with his wife. Lucy and Bob started bowling in retirement because it was something they could do together. But the game became a passion for Bob who enjoyed the competition and camaraderie he found at the alley. Many years ago, Bob started running a youth bowling league at Sparetime recreation, for which he was recently inducted into the Maine Bowling Hall of Fame.

A life-long Lewiston resident, Bob had deep ties to the community and was the type of person who made everyone feel comfortable and cared for, his daughter-in-law, Cassandra, said.

"He wouldn't let you walk out the door without giving him a hug, and a kiss on the check. He was just there for everything," she said.

He loved kids and had a special bond with his grandkids. His eldest grandsons regularly participated in youth bowling nights with him on Wednesdays, and he and his oldest grandson shared a love of Chinese Food.

Bob was a doting husband who set timers on his phone to make sure his wife never missed her medication.

"His first thought every day was her," said Cassandra.

Bob saved up to buy new iPads and iPhones so he could get good videos of the kids in his league bowling and help them improve.

"He loved those kids, all of them," said Cassandra.

Bob was reportedly killed trying to protect the kids he was responsible for on Wednesday night. His wife Lucy was injured but it is unknown what her condition is. — Grace Benninghoff (Press Herald)

Lewiston lawmakers grieving for their city

11:35 a.m. Democratic lawmakers from Lewiston issued statements of grief and support for victims, and appreciation for first responders, who are actively hunting for the suspect, Robert Card, and caring for those injured.

Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier said she "grieves deeply" for the people affected by "this senseless and preventable tragedy." She called for "bold action" to address gun violence.

"This has only strengthened my own resolve to do whatever I can to help prevent similar tragedies like this from happening again in other communities," she said. "As a state, we must do more to address gun violence and keep ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbors safe. Words are not enough — they never have been. We must take bold action. I am also extremely grateful to the Lewiston Police Department and all of the emergency personnel who answered the call to respond to this incident, and are continuing to work today to keep us safe."

Sen. Peggy Rotundo of Lewiston said she was "heart broken."

"Our city of Lewiston, the place we call is home, is a wonderful, diverse and vibrant community normally so full of light and life," she said. "Today, however, we are a community in mourning as we grapple with unimaginable heartache and profound grief — our sense of safety and security shattered by this horrific act of mass violence," Rotundo said.

"Today, our hearts are broken," Reps. Mana Abdi, Margaret Craven and Michel Lajoie said in a joint statement. "Along with our entire community, we are devastated and horrified by the unfathomable acts of mass gun violence that took place last night. We are deeply thankful to all of the first responders, law enforcement and hospital staff who responded swiftly, and will continue to keep all of our neighbors, families and friends who have been affected in our hearts. Together, we are committed to ensuring that a tragedy like this will never happen to another community ever again." — Randy Billings (Press Herald)

L.L.Bean closes flagship store

11:26 a.m. L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport, manufacturing facilities in Lewiston and Brunswick, Freeport fulfillment center and corporate headquarters were closed Thursday. "Maine is more than just a place to us; it's our home, our community, and our family," the company wrote in a Facebook post. "Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone effected by this tragedy in our beloved state. We urge all of our neighbors to stay safe and look out for one another while we process these events together." — Jason Claffey (Times Record)

Sen. King calls Lewiston shooting an 'aberration'

11:25 a.m. Sen. Angus King told News Center Maine on Wednesday morning that he hopes law enforcement can capture the suspect, Robert Card, so a sense of safety can been restored to the community and people can begin to grieve.

King also mentioned Maine's strong tradition of gun ownership.

"Maine has one of the highest levels of gun ownership in the country and one of the lowest levels of gun crime in the country — until last night," King said. "Nothing like this in my recollection has ever happened in Maine. And generally speaking people who use firearms, do so safely and pass that on from generation to generation. This is an aberration. It's shocking and disappointing. It's just hard to characterize."

Maine's legislative Republicans urged people to "stay safe and vigilant" and listen to the instructions of law enforcement while the manhunt continues.

"We continue to monitor the horrific situation in the greater Lewiston area as the manhunt is underway for the person of interest in the Lewiston mass shooting. We grieve for the families of the 18 who were killed and 13 injured in this senseless tragedy," Maine House and Senate Republicans said in a statement.

"We thank the Lewiston Police Department, Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, Maine State Police, our emergency first responders, local hospitals and federal authorities for their heroic efforts as the night unfolded and manhunt continues. We urge everyone to stay safe and vigilant by monitoring instructions and advisories from law enforcement, and stand ready to assist any way we can." — Randy Billings (Press Herald)

Police update on search for shooter: 18 dead

11:07 a.m. Maine State Police are holding a press conference at Lewiston City Hall. Gov. Janet Mills said 18 people have been confirmed dead and 13 injured. "This is a dark day for Maine," she said.

Seven of those victims were killed at Sparetime Recreation, eight people were killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille. Three died overnight at Central Maine Medical Center.

"Lewiston is a special place. It is a close knit community with a long history of hard work, of persistence, of faith, of opening its big heart to people everywhere. Lewiston is where I worked for years, it's where I met and married my husband, Stan, and it's where the girls went to school," Mills said.

"I love this place, just as I love our whole state with my entire heart. I am so deeply saddened. This city did not deserve this terrible assault on its citizens, on its peace of mind, on its sense of security. No city does. No state. No people."

Auburn City Councilor searching for missing son

11:06 a.m. Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker Sr. was among those worried about a loved one Thursday morning. His son, Joe Walker, manages Schemengees Bar and Grill and Walker said he hasn't answered his phone since Wednesday night.

"His wife has called and she hasn't gotten an answer either," Walker said. "Right now we're all thinking the worst."

Walker said Schemengees would have been busy Wednesday night for a corn hole league. "It's a really friendly, nice place," Walker said. "It's a great place for most people. It always was a safe place until this guy went off the deep end and did his damage."

Walker described his son as a "great overall young man."

"He would be just so sorry. So much has happened and a lot of his friends were killed in the same scene. Others were shot up... It's just a real tough thing. I know he would be sorry something like this happened." — Rachel Ohm (Press Herald)

Class A boys soccer game suspended during overtime

11:05 a.m. The Mt. Ararat and Edward Little High School boys soccer teams had their Class A North quarterfinal game suspended Wednesday night at the start of overtime at Stadium Field as a result of the shootings in Lewiston.

"Regulation ended and we went with our teams and started talking overtime," said Mt. Ararat coach Jack Rioux, whose fourth-seeded Eagles were tied 2-2 with the fifth-seeded Red Eddies.

Rioux then said he saw Mt. Ararat principal Chris Hoffman and MSAD 75 interim superintendent Heidi O'Leary huddle with officials on the field.

"They then pulled all us coaches together and said the game was being suspended," said Rioux, a physical education teacher at Mt. Ararat Middle School. "They were going to calmly make an announcement and calmly have people leave. It was very surreal. We were in the heat of competition and then all of a sudden we had to switch gears. But this was the right thing to do."

It is unclear when, or if, the game will be resumed. — Bill Stewart (Central Maine)

Sen. Collins: Federal agencies assisting in search

10:53 a.m. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a phone interview Thursday morning that she spoke with President Joe Biden last night as the tragedy in Lewiston was unfolding, and the president promised to use federal resources to help Maine as much as possible.

"President Biden expressed his deepest sympathy. He told me he wanted to support the people of Maine in every way," Collins said.

"It is just so hard to believe such a heinous attack could occur in our state," she said. "Like many Mainers, I did not sleep last night."

Collins said she has also been in communication with Tom Perez, senior advisor to President Biden, and Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security secretary.

Collins said federal resources such as the FBI, Border Patrol, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, medical examiners and grief counselors are assisting in Maine with the tragedy. — Joe Lawlor (Press Herald)

High school games on hold

10:51 a.m. The status of all high school playoff games and championships scheduled for this weekend is currently on hold, said Mike Bisson, the assistant executive director of the Maine Principals' Association said.

Class A and B volleyball state championships are scheduled for Friday evening at the University of Southern Maine, and the state cross country championships are scheduled for Saturday at Troy Howard Middle School in Belfast. Also, numerous regional playoff games in soccer, field hockey, and football are scheduled for this weekend.

"I don't believe we can make any decisions while the shooter is still at large. We will make decisions once we have more answers. We will work with the schools to meet their needs during this ongoing unfortunate situation," Bisson said in an email. "Everything is currently in a holding pattern with many schools closed for today. Our thoughts are with all of those that have been affected by last night's tragic events." — Travis Lazarczyk (Press Herald)

Weekend events canceled at Cadenza in Freeport

10:50 a.m. Cadenza, a music venue in Freeport, cancelled its weekend events out of "deep respect for the victims of the tragic events in Lewiston Wednesday night," according to an email sent out Thursday.

People who bought tickets to shows will have the option of a refund or credit, the email said. The scheduled performers this weekend were Castlebay on Friday, Sean Mencher and Hugh Bowden on Saturday and a Les Paul Tribute show on Sunday. — Ray Routhier (Press Herald)

Portland issues statement on mass shooting

10:48 a.m. The City of Portland released a statement saying it stands in solidarity with Lewiston and everyone impacted by "the senseless and horrific mass shooting that took place last night."

Roughly 30 Portland police and fire department members are assisting with the situation and many city employees live in Lewiston or have loved ones who reside there, city officials said.

"Portland's City Council and I are stunned by this horrific mass shooting, and we stand in solidarity with the Lewiston community and all Mainers as we are left to once again process a senseless tragedy and its horrid impacts," Mayor Kate Snyder said in a statement. "I am hoping the person responsible will be apprehended as quickly as possible. I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved with the law enforcement and medical response."

City Manager Danielle West said she is heartbroken by the tragedy and is "grieving for those whose lives were lost and those who had their worlds turned upside down last night."

"To the Lewiston community, we stand with you and we're here for you. We have City of Portland employees who live in Lewiston, call Lewiston their hometown, or have loved ones who live there and so I am keenly aware of how this is affecting them," she said in a statement.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Maine delegation reacts to shootings

10:24 a.m. Several Maine officials issued statements of sorrow and urged Androscoggin County residents to stay inside while the manhunt was ongoing.

Sen. Angus King tweeted Wednesday night that he was "deeply sad for the city of Lewiston and all those worried about their family, friends and neighbors."

Rep. Jared Golden also tweeted Wednesday that he was "horrified by the events in Lewiston tonight. This is my hometown...Our hearts break for those who are affected."

Rep. Chellie Pingree tweeted, "The unfolding violence is shocking and I am holding the affected communities in my prayers."

Sen. Susan Collins tweeted that she had been in touch with the White House and that Pres. Biden had offered federal assistance.

Biden also reached out to Gov. Mills Wednesday night, as well as other members of Maine's delegation. — Katherine Lee (Press Herald)

Gun safety groups vow community support

10:18 a.m. Everytown For Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued statements in response to Wednesday shootings in Lewiston. The gun safety groups vowed to support the community in the coming weeks and months.

"Our hearts are broken for the community and the loved ones of those impacted in this senseless tragedy," said Kathleen McFadden, a volunteer and co-chapter leader with the Maine chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Bowling night, dinner with friends, supermarket trips, and school drop-offs should be safe places free from gun violence. We won't sit idly by as this crisis tears our communities apart and will continue to demand action every single day until we are safe from gun violence once and for all."

"Another American community is grappling with what should be the unthinkable," said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. "The people of Lewiston and all who love them can count on the full support of the gun safety movement in the difficult days, months, and years to come."

"Yet again, families and communities are devastated by a senseless act of gun violence. This is not an inevitability," said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. "If access to guns made us safer, America would be the safest country in the world. Instead, we live in a place where you may get shot and killed by a weapon of war while simply living your life. We refuse to accept this as our reality." — Randy Billings (Press Herald)

Scarborough v. TA postponed

10:13 a.m. Thursday's scheduled high school football game between Scarborough and Thornton Academy at Hill Stadium in Saco has been postponed to Friday at 7 p.m., Thornton Academy athletic director Gary Stevens said. — Travis Lazarczyk (Press Herald)

'None of this seems real'

10:11 a.m. Just-in-Time Recreation issued a statement on its Facebook page Thursday: "None of this seems real, but unfortunately it is. We are devastated for our community and our staff. We lost some amazing and whole hearted people from our bowling family and community last night. There are no words to fix this or make it better. We are praying for everyone who has been affected by this horrific tragedy. We love you all and hold you close in our hearts." — Nina Mahaleris (Sun Journal)

Shah on Lewiston shootings

10:06 a.m. Nirav Shah, the much beloved leader of Maine CDC during the COVID pandemic, tweeted Wednesday night about the shooting.

"Tonight, we are all Mainers," he wrote. "As #Maine grieves, so does the nation." His tweet was posted not long after midnight and has had 15,000 views. Shah left Maine earlier this year to take a job as principal deputy director at the U.S. CDC. — Peggy Grodinsky (Press Herald)

'The fear in all the kids' faces'

9:47 a.m. Riley Dumont, an Auburn hairdresser, said she went to Spare Time Wednesday evening with her family for her 10-year-old daughter's bowling league.

They were having dinner, she said, and "next thing I know I heard a really loud crash."

Her father, a retired police officer, told everyone "to get down."

Dumont said she and other adults tried to cover children in a dark corner while gunshots were fired in rapid succession. She said she was too far to see the shooter.

She said her father stood in front of them all, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening.

Dumont said all she could think was "Oh, my God. My dad needs to to get out of there."

She worried the gunman might come closer.

"We were trapped" if he moved in, Dumont said. "There was no exit for us."

The shooting went on for what "felt like a lifetime," Dumont said. When police arrived soon they recognized that it was all over.

On the way out, she said they saw bodies lying on the floor, a sight she worried her daughter will have a hard time with.

"The fear in all the kids' faces is something I'll never forget," Dumont said.

She said it could easily have been worse.

The shooting "has shaken everybody to the core," Dumont said.

But she has hope, too.

"Our community is close-knit, but I think we're all going to come together even more," Dumont said.

Still, she said, it's hard to believe a mass shooting took place right before her eyes in a place that seemed as safe as anywhere, a bowling alley full of children and families.

"You don't think anything like that can happen," Dumont said. — Steve Collins (Sun Journal)

Saco Community Center closed

9:39 a.m. The Saco Community Center is closed and all recreation programing is canceled on Thursday. The community center on Franklin Street is immediately next door to the LTC Butler Army Reserve Center.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Lisbon police investigating every tip

9:35 a.m. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee held a press conference at 9 a.m., telling reporters that "our community is our biggest supporter."

According to McGee, "They call us if they see something, and they know we're going to look into it."

The department received numerous calls overnight, including one about people shouting, and when officers responded they found the sounds were coming from goats and not people. But, that's how serious the department is about answering every tip.

"Absolutely every one," McGee said, officers continue the search for Card. — Judy Meyer (Sun Journal)

South Portland schools close

9:26 a.m. South Portland schools will be closed Thursday, because of "the tragic incidents in Lewiston and the ongoing investigation in the state," according to a school department email sent to families. South Portland High School principal Scott Tombleson said in an email that schools will be closed "out of an abundance of caution."

The South Portland Community Center and the city's Red Bank Community Center are both closed Thursday and all programming is cancelled, according to an email sent out to South Portland residents.

"Our hearts go out to all the victims, families and the Lewiston community this morning," the email read.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Gun law advocates issue call for stronger laws

9:11 a.m. The Maine Gun Safety Coalition called on elected officials to create stronger gun control laws in the state of Maine in the wake of the shooting.

"The Maine Gun Safety Coalition grieves with the families and friends who lost loved ones in the mass shooting last night," the coalition wrote in a press release. "We watched in horror as the tragedy in Lewiston, Maine happened before our eyes — the result of weak gun laws."

The coalition called for, at a minimum, an assault weapons ban. — Lana Cohen (Portland Press Herald)

FBI Boston ready to assist

9:09 a.m. The FBI Boston Division issued a statement late Wednesday night saying it was coordinating "with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in Maine and we stand ready to assist with any available resources they need, including evidence response, investigative and tactical support, as well as victim assistance." — Nita Lelyveld (Portland Press Herald)

'At a loss for words'

8:47 a.m. Schemengees Bar and Grill posted a message to the community on Facebook: "My heart is crushed. I am at a loss for words. In a split second your world gets turn upside down for no good reason. We loss great people in this community. How can we make any sense of this. Sending out prayers to everyone." — Steve Collins (Sun Journal)

Bath Iron Works partial closures

8:43 a.m. First shift workers at Bath Iron Works who are impacted by shelter in place orders have been told not to report to work Thursday morning. Their missed time will be excused under the terms of their collective bargaining agreements. The Western Maine Community Action Blue Line Express commuter bus service from Lewiston and Lisbon will not run today.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Bates College remains on lockdown

8:24 a.m. Bates College "remains on lockdown, and we continue to follow Lewiston Police Department guidance to shelter in place," said Tracey Reeves, vice president for communications.

Classes are canceled today. Employees are asked to shelter in place until further notice from the college.

At this time, there are no reports of any Bates student or employee fatalities. — Steve Collins (Sun Journal)

Gov. Mills to join 10:30 a.m. press conference

8:14 a.m. Gov. Janet Mills will join state and local police for a press briefing about the shootings at 10:30 a.m. at Lewiston City Hall.

Mills said she received multiple briefings from public safety officials overnight and has spoken with President Biden, who pledged his administration's full support, according to a spokesperson for the governor.

The Press Herald, Sun Journal, Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal will live stream the press conference.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Businesses announce closures

8:11 a.m. Multiple businesses and organizations have also announced they will stay closed on Thursday.

The Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine is closed. Ticket holders will receive an email with more information.

Aroma Joe's announced 10 locations are closed Thursday.

"As we process the horrific news out of Lewiston, Maine, we remain committed to keeping our baristas safe," the company said in a social media post.

Locations in Lewiston, Auburn, Oxford, Topsham, Brunswick, Turner, Gray, Raymond, Naples and Lisbon are closed.

Click here for a live update on closures.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

Some University of Maine schools closing

8:10 a.m. University of Maine System schools are also making individual campus closure decisions. The system's Orono, Machias, Portland and Farmington campuses will all remain closed Thursday. The system's other three campuses have yet to release decisions on the matter. — Lana Cohen (Portland Press Herald)

Maine Community Colleges largely close

7:56 a.m. Four out of seven of Maine's community colleges have so far announced they will keep their doors closed today.

Central Maine Community College in Auburn, Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield and York County Community College in Wells all have cancelled classes and other school events for the day.

Maine Community College System presidents are making individual decisions about what is best for their campuses. — Lana Cohen (Portland Press Herald)

Multiple state and municipal offices are closed Thursday.

7:53 a.m. In Cumberland, all town facilities and offices will be closed Thursday, including Prince Memorial Library and Val Halla Golf Course. The town announced that Cumberland police "will be out in force" and urged residents to report anything suspicious to police.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch in Topsham is closed, as are all state government offices in Lewiston and Auburn.

Maine state courts and facilities in Lewiston and Auburn are closed, including Lewiston District Court, Auburn Superior Court and the violations bureau/service center.

— Gillian Graham (Portland Press Herald)

All Hannaford grocery stores will be closed until 10 a.m.

7:45 a.m. — Hannaford grocery stores announced in a Facebook post that all of its Maine stores will be closed Thursday until at least 10 a.m.

"Our stores are following all shelter in place advisories and guidance from law enforcement," the store posted. "This is an evolving situation and we will provide updates as soon as possible. The health and safety of our associates and customers is our top priority. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our associates and community members as we collectively cope with this heartbreaking tragedy."

— Carl Natale (Sun Journal)

Closures extend to Portland schools, offices; Jetport remains open

7:30 a.m. — Among many closures today, the state's largest city is also halting normal operations in the wake of the Lewiston shootings. Portland Public School District schools will be closed Thursday as will all Portland city buildings except for City Hall and the city's public health clinic.

The Portland airport is continuing operations as normal. Portland police and the department of homeland security have increased patrols in the area, according to a Portland International Jetport press release sent out Wednesday morning. The jetport directed passengers who are sheltered in place and not comfortable leaving their homes to contact their airlines to make travel adjustments.

— Lana Cohen (Portland Press Herald)

Stephen King calls for gun reform following shooting

7:20 a.m. — Maine's most famous author, Stephen King, posted his thoughts on Twitter/X this morning about the Lewiston shootings, which he noted happened "less than 50 miles from where I live."

The shootings occurred less than 50 miles from where I live. I went to high school in Lisbon. It's the rapid-fire killing machines, people. This is madness in the name of freedom. Stop electing apologists for murder.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 26, 2023

— Scott Monroe (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel)

VIDEO: The scene from Sparetime Recreation on Wednesday night

6:55 a.m. LEWISTON — Sun Journal photojournalist Russ Dillingham has exclusive video from the scene Wednesday night showing people evacuating Sparetime Recreation and local law enforcement responding.

— Scott Monroe (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel)

Shelter-in-place order expands to Bowdoin

6 a.m. BOWDOIN — Shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday morning, Maine State Police said authorities were expanding shelter-in-place and school closing advisories to include the town of Bowdoin as well.

The person of interest police have identified in connection with the Lewiston shootings, Robert Card, lives in Bowdoin.

"Please stay inside your homes while more than 100 investigators, both local and federal work to locate Robert Card who is a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings," state police said.

— Scott Monroe (Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel)