The shooting in Maine that left at least 22 dead and dozens injured has been described as the worst mass shooting in the US since 2019.
The shootings began at roughly 7pm in Lewiston when the gunman stormed a bowling alley and then moved on to open fire at a restaurant roughly four miles away.
US-based journalist Harriet Alexander told Newstalk Breakfast at least 22 people are dead and 50 to 60 people are injured.
“It's the worst mass shooting in the United States this year,” she said.
“It's actually the worst since 2019.
“It’s a horrific toll.”
She explained the shooter “took off in his car” following the killings.
“The car has actually been found, but as of yet, there is no word of the gunman himself," she said.
“He's named as a ‘person of interest’ in this as Robert Card - he's an Army Reservist and a firearms instructor.
“The fact that this gunman very much appeared to know what he was doing, if he's a firearms instructor, means that finding him is going to be all the more complicated for law enforcement.”
Photo released by the Lewiston Maine Police Department of the vehicle connected to the suspected of a mass shooting in Maine, 26/10/2023. Image: Associated Press/AlamyMs Alexander described the shooting as a “very traumatic night in a very small and rural area”.
“It was ‘cornhole night’, which is a very popular American game, and in the restaurant, they had a lot of people who are gathered there,” she said.
“And the bowling alley, it seems like there was a children's bowling party going on there.
“Eyewitnesses have said that a lot of children were running from the building.”
Maine police have warned locals to stay indoors and not to approach Mr Card if they see him.
“[They said] Card was sectioned for his own mental health after saying that he was hearing voices and threatening to open fire at the National Guard base where he was stationed,” Ms Alexander said.
“He's somebody whose sounds like he had plenty of trauma.”
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