A mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, at a bar and bowling alley Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 22 people, left dozens wounded and prompted a citywide lockdown as law enforcement pursued a person of interest.

A police intelligence bulletin identified Robert Card, who was trained as a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Maine, as the person of interest.

The document, reviewed by The Associated Press (AP) and circulated to law enforcement officials, says Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide specific details about his treatment or condition.

The document also said Card had reported hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine. A telephone number listed for the Card in public records was not in service.

Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed a shooter walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to their shoulder. Authorities said the shooting started just before 7:00 p.m.

Two law enforcement officials told the AP that at least 22 people were killed, and the toll was expected to rise. However, Michael Sauschuck, the Maine Department of Public Safety commissioner, declined to provide a specific estimate at a news conference, calling it a "fluid situation."

The two law enforcement officials said dozens of people had also been wounded. The officials were not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were "reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event" and were coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients. The hospital was locked down and police, some armed with rifles, stood by the entrances.

Meanwhile, hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the south, were on alert to potentially receive victims.

Authorities ordered residents and business owners to stay inside and off the streets. The shelter-in-place order was extended Wednesday night from Lewiston to Lisbon, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away, after a "vehicle of interest" was found there, authorities said.

Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away around 7:00 p.m. Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building four at a time. Everyone in the bar is safe.

"I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe," Small told The AP. "But at the same time, my heart is broken for this area and what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb."

The alert for Lewiston was made shortly after 8:00 p.m. as the sheriff’s office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating "two active shooter events." Officials issued an update around 10 p.m. on their search.

"Avoid the area until authorities give the all-clear," the statement said. "Seek alternative routes to circumvent the area and any disruptions. If already operating in the affected region, adhere to all instructions issued by local officials, including the shelter-in-place order."

"We are encouraging all businesses to lock down and or close while we investigate," the sheriff’s office reported.

A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety urged residents to stay in their homes with locked doors.

"Law enforcement is investigating at two locations right now," Shannon Moss said. "Please stay off the streets and allow law enforcement to diffuse the situation."

Gov. Janet Mills released a statement echoing those instructions. She said she had been briefed on the situation and would remain in close contact with public safety officials.

President Joe Biden had spoken to Mills and the state’s Senate and House members by phone, offering "full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack," a White House statement said.

Local schools will be closed Thursday and people should shelter in place or seek safety, Superintendent Jake Langlais said, adding: "Stay close to your loved ones. Embrace them."

Wednesday’s death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.

Lewiston emerged as a major center for African immigration into Maine. The Somali population, which numbers in the thousands, has changed the demographics of the once overwhelmingly white mill city into one of the most diverse in northern New England.

Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, said he was "deeply sad for the city of Lewiston and all those worried about their family, friends and neighbors" and was monitoring the situation. King’s office said the senator would be headed directly home to Maine on the first flight possible.