'Immeasurable pain': Maine reels as army reservist leaves 18 dead in gun rampage

A suspect in the killing of 18 people and wounding of 13 in two shootings in the US state of Maine was on the run last night as authorities issued arrest warrants for multiple counts of murder.

- Richard Luscombe

Police named the 40-year-old Robert Card, an army reservist and firearms instructor, as the suspect in the Wednesday night killings at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston. Card, who has a history of mental illness, was described as "armed and dangerous".

His car was found shortly before midnight in Lisbon, about 8 miles from the murder scenes. Officials urged people in both towns and surrounding areas to shelter in place as a manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement personnel continued.

"This is someone that should not be approached. This is someone, if you come into any contact with this individual, or someone that you think looks like this individual, you want to call 911," said Col William Ross of the Maine state police.

Janet Mills, the Democratic governor, said the community was just beginning to come to terms with the murders. "This is a dark day for Maine," she said. "The people of Lewiston are enduring immeasurable pain. I wish I could take that pain off your hearts, off your shoulders.

But I promise you this, we will all help you carry that grief." The incident at about 7pm on Wednesday was this year's 565th mass shooting in the US, the Gun Violence Archive said. The archive defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four victims are wounded or killed, excluding the shooter.

Mike Sauschuck, the Maine commissioner of public safety, said Card had mental health issues and was released this summer after a short stay at a treatment facility. He said Card, from Bowdoin, about 15 miles east of Lewiston, reported hearing "voices in his head" and had made threats to carry out a shooting at a national guard base in Saco.