Deadly mass shooting in Maine claims 22 lives

Maine: A horrifying mass shooting in the northeastern U.S. state of Maine has left at least 22 people dead and numerous others injured.

The attack occurred when a lone gunman opened fire in the city of Lewiston, leading to an escalating death toll, according to two unnamed law enforcement officials in the city who spoke to The Associated Press.

NBC News, citing a law enforcement official from Lewiston, reported that at least 22 people have lost their lives and around 60 have been injured in the attack.

Local and state police are currently in pursuit of the suspect, who remains at large, although no exact figures regarding casualties have been disclosed.

Lewiston, home to approximately 39,000 residents, is now grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event.

Authorities have released a photograph of the suspect, identified as Robert Card, on the Lewiston Police Department's Facebook page.

In their social media post, they have described Card as "armed and dangerous."

Previously, the police shared two images of a bearded individual dressed in a long-sleeved brown shirt and dark combat trousers, with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

The police also released a picture of a white SUV that had been abandoned and appealed to the public for assistance.

A message on the social media platform X from the Maine State Police alerted the community, saying, "There is an active shooter in Lewiston. Please keep your doors locked inside your homes. Law enforcement agencies are investigating at multiple locations."

The assailant targeted various locations, including a bar, a bowling alley, and a Wal-Mart distribution center, as reported by the local newspaper the Sun-Journal.

The Central Maine Medical Center has stated on its website that its staff is responding to a mass casualty event following this mass shooting. Hospitals in the area are preparing to receive patients.

The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation and engaged in phone conversations discussing the incident with Maine Governor Janet Mills, Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, and Congressman Jared Golden.

The President expressed full support from the federal government.

If the confirmed count of 22 lives lost holds, this will mark the deadliest shooting in the U.S. since at least August 2019, when a gunman unleashed a hail of bullets on shoppers at an El Paso Wal-Mart, killing 23 individuals, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

This horrific event joins a series of other mass shootings, including the tragic incident at an elementary school in Ovalde, Texas, in 2022, where a teenage shooter claimed the lives of 19 children and two adults.