An angry Maine resident who sought refuge in his home after a mass shooter opened fire just a block from his home said he was “locked and loaded,” while a bar owner at a second shooting site revealed patrons were playing cornhole had.
Don Dostie, 61, shared a post on Facebook as police in Lewiston, Maine, continue to search the area for the active shooter who was seen with a long rifle.
Dostie told that he was seeking shelter with his wife Dinny, 54, and that they were “safe” for now.
“If one of these shooters comes near my house, I will not ask how they are,” he finished.
Dostie said he heard gunshots in the distance and police cars flying past on Main Street, as well as several ambulances taking the victims to the hospital.
Sources told CNN there were 16 dead and 50-60 injured. The number of casualties has not been confirmed, but hospitals in Maine said they were declaring a mass casualty event
Don Dostie, pictured here with his wife, shared a post on Facebook as police in Lewiston, Maine, continue to search the area for the active shooter
A photo released by sheriffs showed a white man entering the Sparetime Recreation Center carrying a long rifle, wearing black combat pants and a brown top. His face is clearly visible.
“There is an active shooter situation in the city of Lewiston,” Maine State Police said, although his identity remains unknown.
“County Sheriff is asking about the shooter and sent pictures of him with an AR15. “They say there could be four different shooters, but I don’t know for sure.”
The 61-year-old said he and his wife often walked their dog near the bowling alley and heard that several other businesses were hit before seeking shelter.
“Most of us hunt in Maine, I’m a pretty good shot,” Dostie said when asked what he would do if he came face to face with the shooter.
“I heard sirens about half an hour ago and thought I heard some gunshots in the distance. “We’ll stay in our house.”
According to police footage, the two locations were Schemengee’s Bar & Grill and Sparetime Leisure Center. The two locations are approximately four miles apart and are located in Maine’s second largest city.
The Sun Journal reported that Schemengees co-owner Kathy Lebel said patrons were playing cornhole at the bar and grill when the shooting began.
She told the outlet, “It was just a fun night playing cornhole…that’s the last thing you expect, right?”
“I still feel like the whole thing is a nightmare.”
Police were then called to a third location, a Walmart distribution center, said Derrick St. Laurent, a Lewiston spokesman.
St. Laurent told the Sun Journal that the first call to Sparetime came in around 7:16 p.m.
Police were then called to Schemengee’s and then to the Walmart location around 8:15 p.m.
Footage shared on social media showed police rushing to the scene in the city of 36,000, 35 miles north of Portland and 35 miles south of the capital Augusta.
The 61-year-old said he and his wife often walked their dog near the bowling alley and heard that several other businesses were hit before seeking shelter
People are seen fleeing the scene of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine
The sheriffs released this picture of the man they are hunting. He is seen entering the Sparetime bowling alley in Lewiston
Justin Juray, an owner of the bowling alley where authorities say a shooting took place, told The New York Times that he was present at the time of the shooting.
Juray had described the scene as “total chaos” and said he could not speak further after the incident.
At Bates College, a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, dozens of students could be seen taking shelter on the top floor of the library.
Anne Kinney of Auburn told the Sun Journal she was in Lewiston picking up a prescription when she was notified of the active shooter.
She said, “A speaker in the store came on and told us there was an active shooter and that all entry was possible.” [and]Exit doors were locked.
“An employee brought some of us chairs to sit on.” Eventually, a local police officer arrived and advised the store people to let us out one by one if we wanted, and then dim the store lights and close the store completely close.”
On Monday, Lewiston Public Schools Superintendent Jake Langlais wrote to parents to let them know he had been made aware of threats against the school – but they had discovered the person who made the threats was 10 years old was old and lived in the Midwest.
“The person responsible for the message threatening LHS last night has been identified,” Langlais wrote in a letter obtained by News Center Maine.
“Law enforcement made contact and the situation was resolved.”
On Wednesday, Lewiston schools had been holding parent-teacher conferences when they went into lockdown.
Langlais said: “Everyone, please move to a safe place if you are in or near a school for conferences, we are going into lockdown.”
“I will provide further information as it becomes available and appropriate.” “Right now we have to let law enforcement do what they have to do.”