A man described how he escaped the mass murderer at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley duringWednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Mainethat claimed the lives of at least 16 people.
While speaking withThe Associated Press, a man — who only identified himself as Brandon — said that he heard about 10 shots initially, but did not immediately realize it was gunfire.
“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon — he was holding a weapon — I just booked it,” he told The Associated Press.
Brandon told the outlet that he ran down the bowling lane, ducked into the pin area and climbed into the machinery to hide from the gunman.
At a Wednesday night press conference, Mike Sauschuck, Public Safety Commissioner for the Governor’s Office, said the violence began at about 6:56 p.m. Lewiston police had said that in addition to the shooting at Sparetime Recreation, the gunman also opened fire inside of Schemengees Bar and Grille.
CNN,Fox NewsandABC News, citing law enforcement sources, each report there have been at least 16 fatalities. In addition to the fatalities, dozens of people have been injured, CNN reports.
In a Wednesday night Facebook post, the Lewiston Police Department identified a person of interest in the attacks as Robert Card, 40, who is at large and is considered “armed and dangerous.”
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
The Associated Press, citing a state police bulletin, reports the person of interest is a military-trained firearms instructor who had recently been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer.
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According to the bulletin, the person of interest had threatened to perpetrate a shooting at a military base in Saco, Maine. The bulletin also says the person of interest had said he’d heard voices. PEOPLE has not been able to independently verify the information on the bulletin.
Sauschuck said a reunification center has been set up at Auburn Middle School with counselors on hand.
source: people.com
