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'My back was turned to the door': Maine mass shooting survivor recalls how he escaped bloodbath at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley

At around 7pm on Wednesday, October 25, the man opened fire at the bowling alley, then moved to Schemengees Bar & Grille around four miles away, continuing his killing spree

LEWISTON, MAINE: A man revealed the spine-chilling details on how he escaped the mass murderer at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley during Wednesday night’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that cost the lives of at least 16 civilians.

The man, who disclosed his name as Brandon, said in an interview with the Associated Press that he heard about 10 shots initially but did not immediately realize it was gunfire.

“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon — he was holding a weapon — I just booked it,” he told the outlet. 

Brandon ran down the bowling lane 

Brandon further revealed that he ran down the bowling lane, ducked into the pin area, and climbed into the machinery to hide from the gunman.

Public Safety Commissioner for the Governor’s Office, Mike Sauschuck, said at a Wednesday night, October 25, press conference that the violence began at about 6:56 pm.

Lewiston police had been told that in addition to the shooting at Sparetime Recreation, the gunman also opened fire inside Schemengees Bar and Grille.

Dozens of people were injured 

According to the reports of multiple outlets, there have been at least 16 fatalities.

Besides the deaths, dozens of people have been injured, CNN reports.

In a Wednesday night Facebook post, the Lewiston Police Department identified a "person of interest" in the attacks as Robert Card, 40, who is at large and is considered “armed and dangerous.”

Suspect Robert Card is military-trained firearms instructor 

The Associated Press, citing a state police bulletin, reports the person of interest is a military-trained firearms instructor who had recently been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this past summer.

According to the bulletin, the person of interest had threatened to perpetrate a shooting at a military base in Saco, Maine. 

The bulletin also stated that the person of interest had heard voices.

Authorities have located 'vehicle of interest'

Sauschuck said authorities had located a “vehicle of interest” in Lisbon, a neighboring town to Lewiston.

The residents there and residents of nearby Lewiston, Auburn, and Bowdoin, Maine, have been advised to shelter in place. Sauschuck said a reunification center has been set up at Auburn Middle School with counselors on hand.

Lewiston has a population of about 38,500 and is the second-most populous city in the state after Portland, which sits about 35 miles south. It’s the home of Bates College and the Dempsey Center, founded by actor Patrick Dempsey.