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At least 22 people were killed and \u201cmany, many more\u201d were injured in shootings in the city of Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday evening, city officials reported, overwhelming local hospitals with gunshot victims.<\/p>\n
City Councillor Robert McCarthy told<\/a> CNN<\/em> that the death toll had risen to 22 in the shooting spree that took place at a bowling alley and also at least one other location, a local restaurant and bar, according to media.<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding is that they have a tentative identification\u2026 of the shooter at the bowling alley, confirmed 22 dead, many, many more injured,\u201d McCarthy said.<\/p>\n Rescue vehicles rushed in from around central Maine to tend to the wounded, McCarthy said, and the two Lewiston hospitals \u201chave called in every off-duty staff member that they could to deal with this\u201d.<\/p>\n President Joe Biden made calls \u2014 while a state dinner honouring Australia\u2019s prime minister was underway \u2014 to Maine\u2019s governor, its two senators and a local congressman to offer federal support, the White House said.<\/p>\n Local police posted a photo of the shooter on Facebook carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon inside the bowling alley.<\/p>\n They later issued a bulletin for 40-year-old Robert Card, saying the suspect in the mass shooting \u201cshould be considered armed and dangerous\u201d. \u201cPlease contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts.\u201d<\/p>\n Police also released a picture of a white SUV, and asked for the public\u2019s help in identifying the vehicle, saying its front bumper may have been painted black.<\/p>\n Law enforcement \u201care investigating two active shooter events,\u201d the Androscoggin County Sheriff\u2019s Department wrote on Facebook. \u201cWe are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate. The suspect is still at large.\u201d<\/p>\n Maine Governor Janet Mills said she was \u201caware of and have been briefed on the active shooter situation in Lewiston.\u201d<\/p>\n CNN<\/em> reported<\/a> that at least 50 to 60 people were injured in the incidents, citing multiple law enforcement sources, but said it was unclear how many of the injuries were the result of gunfire.<\/p>\n Police and rescuers reportedly arrived at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley at approximately 7:15pm local time in response to an active shooter, and thereafter received reports of another shooting at the Schemengees Bar & Grille, according to the Sun Journal<\/em> local newspaper.<\/p>\n At 8:15pm, another shooting was reported at a local Walmart distribution center, it said.<\/p>\n Maine Congressman Jared Golden wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter that \u201clike all Mainers, I\u2019m horrified by the events in Lewison tonight. This is my hometown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, all of us are looking to local law enforcement as they gain control of the situation and gather information. Our hearts break for those who are affected,\u201d he said. Distraught citizens flocked to local hospitals.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just overwhelmed. I\u2019ve been here trying to spread, you know, some kind of comfort, some kind of support,\u201d Cynthia Hunter, a local resident, told CBS<\/em> affiliate WGME<\/em>.<\/p>\n The shooting is one of the deadliest since 2017, when a gunman opened fire on a crowded music festival in Las Vegas, killing some 60 people<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gun violence is alarmingly common in the United States, a country where there are more guns than people and where attempts to clamp down on their spread are always met with stiff resistance.<\/p>\n\u2018My hometown\u2019<\/h2>\n