The man suspected of gunning down people in the shootings in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday night faces eight counts of murder but remains at large, police said Thursday morning. Authorities identified eight victims and are working to identify 10 more people who were killed.
The suspect was initially referred to by police as a “person of interest” as they began a manhunt for the 40-year-old trained firearms expert, who they said was “armed and dangerous.” During a press conference Thursday morning, police named him as the suspect in the shootings.
Maine Democratic Governor Janet Mills said that at least 18 people have been confirmed dead after the shootings when the suspect allegedly fired upon groups of people in two different locations. Police responded to reports of a shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley 10 minutes away. Eight victims were found dead at the bar and grille, and another seven were found dead at the bowling alley. Another three people were pronounced dead at area hospitals.
The suspect, who has served in the Army Reserves since 2002, was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks over the summer, according to law enforcement who said that the suspect “recently reported mental health issues to include hearing voices and threats to shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco, ME.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have joined the manhunt, assisting local and state police in the investigation. State police in neighboring states, New Hampshire and Connecticut, are on high alert as the search continues for the suspect, and people are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to local police.
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The Daily Wire has a policy of not naming mass shooters to deprive them of undeserved notoriety but will temporarily provide names and images of suspects on the run or persons of interest to assist law enforcement in their apprehension.
