Divers will join the extensive search for the suspect in the Maine mass shooting, according to law enforcement officials who spoke at a press conference on Friday morning.
More than 36 hours after a gunman killed 18 people and wounded 13 others at a bowling alley and a local restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, police are still searching for the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card.
The search will now include divers who will be responsible for checking for evidence and potential bodies in the Androscoggin River, as stated by Maine’s public safety commissioner, Michael Sauschuck.
Authorities discovered a vehicle linked to the suspect near the Androscoggin River in Lisbon on Thursday. The search area around the river will expand to include a ground search of the surrounding area and an aerial search using helicopters, led by the Maine State Police.
It is not yet known if the suspect is in the water, clarified Mr Sauschuck.
A shelter-in-place order remains in effect, and high-profile searches will continue as law enforcement agencies executed search warrants in the nearby town of Bowdoin overnight on Thursday.
Videos of the searches showed officers announcing their presence through a megaphone, but the suspected gunman was not found. However, authorities did discover a note at one of the residences connected to the suspect’s family.
The search efforts have been expanded to more rural areas and the Kennebec River, which has involved the use of helicopters and Coast Guard boats.
The counties of Androscoggin and Sagadahoc have shelter-in-place orders in effect as law enforcement continues the search. Numerous businesses and schools in the vicinity also remain closed.
During the press conference, Mr Sauschuck informed the public that the investigation into the crime scenes is still ongoing and asked for patience and respect. He mentioned that identifying victims and notifying their families are part of the ongoing process.
So far, 10 of the 18 victims have been identified.
Maine officials will hold daily press briefings at 10 AM ET until the suspect is apprehended. Additional afternoon briefings will take place if necessary.
