Oct. 27 (UPI) — The search for the suspect in the mass shooting in Maine that left more than a dozen people dead earlier this week will focus on a river near where his car was found, officials said Friday.
Lewiston Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said at a Friday press conference, that Robert Card is not yet in custody and that the aerial teams would search above the waters of the Androscoggin River, while officers will search the land nearby and divers will use remote operated vehicles with sonar technology to check for movement under the water.
“The car was located there. Evidence was located in the vehicle right along the shores of the Androscoggin River. So that’s the stuff we want to make sure we’re checking,” Sauschuck said.
Sauschuck confirmed a note was found during a previous search but did not provide details about its contents.
“There was a note at one of these residences. I’m not permitted to really talk about what that included,” Sauschuck said. “So we’ll definitely continue to work on that and when we can release it we certainly will.”
Investigators Friday continued to process the crime scenes where at least 18 people were fatally shot and 13 were injured.
Sauschuck added that more than 530 tips and leads have come in and processing the crime scenes is taking time.
“We’re going to be processing every square inch of these facilities,” Sauschuck said “Not only do you have the victims in question, but every one of those rounds that got fired need to be investigated. Every one of those cartridges that lays on the ground need to be collected.”
Shelter-in-place orders remained in effect Friday for Lewiston and nearby communities Auburn, Lisbon and Bowdoin.
“A tremendous amount of law enforcement manpower, time and effort is being utilized around the clock, literally around the clock, to apprehend the suspect as well as to safeguard this community,” Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre said Friday.
He asked the public to be patient with the process as law enforcement coordinates efforts by multiple agencies.
Sauschuck declined to answer questions about warnings police may have received about Card prior to the shootings and if they warranted triggering the state’s yellow flag gun law.
That law is similar to red flag laws that allow police to take guns from mentally ill or violent people, but more steps must be done before guns can actually be taken.
Sauschuck said he wouldn’t talk specifically about who knew what and when. He would not confirm whether or not specific police agencies received warnings about Card prior to the shootings.
“We’re focused on an individual that currently has eight warrants out for murder. We’re trying to figure that part out, trying to bring him in for justice,” Sauschuck said.
Reporters pressed to confirm police had gotten warnings but Sauschuck to confirm that.
Another reporter referenced the assertion of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, that warnings about Card should have triggered the yellow flag law.
Sauschuck refused to respond to that point from Collins.
He expressed sympathy and support for the victims and their families and thanked the hundreds of law enforcement personnel who are helping search for the mass killer suspect
