LIVE UPDATING:
Update: 10 p.m. EST - The shooter is reported to be in a 2013 White Subaru Outback with a different color front bumper, license plate 9246PD.
Some reports indicated 16 deaths, while others say at least 22 deaths have been reported.
This an awful story and something that breaks my heart to even report.
Tonight, a coward gunman in Lewiston, Maine, opened fire at various locations throughout the city. Three locations were identified as crime scenes: Sparetime Recreation, Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, and the local Walmart Distribution Center. Law enforcement agencies, including the Maine State Police and the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, were deployed to manage the crisis and pursue the assailant, but as of writing, he has not been apprehended.
As the night's events unfolded, the toll of devastation became clear. The shooter's violent spree left a tragic mark, with 16 people reported dead as of the time of this writing. This is an ongoing situation, so the exact toll will only be known in the hours and days to come.
The gunman remains at large, evading the law enforcement and plunging the community into a state of fear.
The response from law enforcement was immediate and robust. The Maine State Police urged residents to 'shelter in place', a directive echoed by nearby Auburn city officials as well.
"We are encouraging all businesses to lock down or close while we investigate," the sheriff's office said in a statement to the public.
Schools were placed on lockdown, and parents attending parent-teacher conferences were urged to find safety. The authorities also took to social media, sharing images of the suspect who was seen brandishing a rifle, in a bid to garner community assistance in apprehending the shooter.
Images captured from the scenes showed the unidentified shooter entering a bowling alley in the chilling moments that preceded the shooting. The Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office released these images to the public.
We will continue to update this story as more details become available. Please pray for Lewiston. This is an inconceivable tragedy.
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