A person has described the second he ran down the lane of a bowling alley and “climbed up into the machine” to cover after a gunman entered the constructing and opened fireplace.
The witness, who solely gave his first identify as Brandon, has spoken concerning the ordeal as police within the US state of Maine proceed to hunt a person suspected of capturing lifeless between 15 and 20 folks within the metropolis of Lewiston.
Robert Card, 40, is a educated firearms teacher who’s believed to be within the US Army Reserves, in keeping with a bulletin put out by the Maine Information and Analysis Center, a database for legislation enforcement officers.
It provides that legislation enforcement mentioned Card “recently reported mental health issues to include hearing voices and threats to shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco, Maine”.
Sky News’ US companion community NBC News reviews that Card has 20 years navy expertise.
Follow dwell: Hunt for ‘harmful’ man with navy expertise
Brandon mentioned at one stage the gunman was round 15 toes behind him on the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, including: “He was close, very close.”
He continued: “I’m night bowling and out of nowhere he came in and there was a loud pop. I thought it was a balloon, I had my back turned to the door.
“As quickly as I turned and noticed that it was not a balloon, that he was holding a weapon, I simply bucked it down the lane the place I slid principally into the place the pins are and climbed up into the machine.
“I was on top of the machine for about 10 minutes until the cops got there.”
Brandon added there was a “lot of ruckus” when he received to the highest of the bowling machine.
“I was putting on my bowling shoes when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he added.
Read extra:
What we learn about suspect to date
A anxious mom instructed NBC News she had “heard nothing” from her son who was taking part in pool at Schemengees bar, the second location the place shootings passed off, together with her ex-husband final evening.
The mom mentioned: “I saw on Facebook that there was a shooting at Schemengees where they were playing, and then nobody would tell us anything… we’re all waiting and we’ve heard nothing.”
‘We locked down’
Meanwhile, a person who works at a foundry close to Schemengees bar mentioned one in every of his good friend’s 21-year-old son was shot.
Jeremy James was talking from outdoors a hospital in Lewiston when he mentioned he heard the person was shot one time and “he’s doing OK”.
Mr James additionally mentioned that he locked his facility down through the capturing on the restaurant.
‘I simply really feel numb’
Melinda Small, the proprietor of the Legends Sports Bar and Grill, lower than 1 / 4 of a mile away from the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, mentioned police rushed in and evacuated everybody from the constructing after reviews of the shootings emerged.
She mentioned the incident left her in a “state of shock”.
“I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe,” she added.
“But the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb.”
‘Fear and panic’ as folks search for family members
The mayor of Auburn, Lewiston’s neighbouring metropolis, mentioned witnesses to the shootings had been interviewed and brought to a reunification centre.
Jason J Levesque mentioned the witnesses had been of all ages, together with youngsters.
“We wanted to make sure that evidence could be gathered and the proper protocol could be followed,” he mentioned.
Mr Levesque added that many witnesses had been in shock and there was “fear and panic” amongst folks on the lookout for family members.
He mentioned: “We’ve got a really strong community. We’ve overcome a lot and we’ll overcome this.”
Vehicle positioned in hunt for suspect
All city places of work will probably be closed in the present day in Lisbon, a city of round 9,700 folks close to to Lewiston, the place a automobile that was being sought within the investigation has been discovered.
“Please prioritise safety and continue to shelter in place”, the city mentioned on its web site.
Source: information.sky.com”