A manhunt for a US army reservist suspected of murdering 18 people and injuring 13 others in a mass shooting in Maine has entered its third day
Robert Card, 40, is said to be "armed and dangerous" and residents are still being told to shelter in place
Officers raided a home in Bowdoin on Thursday night, but departed several hours later
At a news conference on Friday, police said divers were scouring the river near a boat dock where the suspect's car was located.
Officials said a note was also found at a property belonging to the suspect, but declined to offer details
Meanwhile, Lewiston, a city of about 38,000, is on lockdown. Schools as well as most local businesses are staying closed on Friday
The attack has sparked calls for more gun control measures in the US, with Congressman Jared Golden calling for an assault weapons ban, reversing his previous stance
Matt Murphy
Live Editor, in Washington DC
We're pausing our live coverage of the ongoing hunt for Robert Card, the main suspect in the Maine mass shooting that has left 18 people dead.
You can read all the latest news from the hunt here.
Maine resident: 'We hope everyone gets through this'
An emotional resident says she feels "frustrated and worried" as the gunman remains at large, adding she has spent the day calling loved ones to reassure them her family is safe.
"We're just hoping everyone gets through this, the people that are injured recover safely. Our hearts go out to all those that didn't", she says
Thanks for following our live updates today as the search for the gunman continued for another day. If you missed any of our coverage or just need a quick reminder, here's the latest information from today:
Rebecca Hartmann
Reporting from Maine
Image source, ReutersPolice search a farm as the manhunt continues
Earlier, police were investigating reports of a gunshot at a farm in Lisbon, Maine. However, by the time our BBC team arrived they told us the incident was a false alarm.
Deer hunting season in Maine starts tomorrow, so officers are expecting lots more of these.
Maine resident Alex Lachance told the BBC that she knew the suspect, Robert Card, when he worked as a lorry driver in the state.
She said she remembered him as a "quiet" man who didn't "talk much".
'I knew the shooter' - Lewiston resident
Nomia Iqbal
reporting from Maine
We’re in a cafe nearby, in Auburn across the river from Lewiston.
It’s one of the few that’s opened during lockdown and it’s fairly full.
The news is playing out on a big flat screen TV. People are watching as we are given updates that police have received more than 500 tips and the search has widened.
A waitress tell us she was working in Lewiston about two minutes away from the bar when the shooting happened.
While she was scared at that time she feels less nervous now.
“I think Card is long gone..he’s probably out off the country now," she tells me.
“Stay safe” are the two parting words we hear from staff to customers - it’s almost become a normal phrase to use here now.
Brandon Drenon
Reporting from Washington DC
BBC reporter presses Collins on 'yellow flag' law
During the press conference, a reporter asks about Maine's yellow flag law and what officials knew about the suspect before the mass shooting.
Concern that the law, meant to keep guns away from people experiencing mental health crises, was not followed in this situation has been repeatedly expressed.
Notably, on Thursday night Maine Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, said "it certainly seems that on the basis of the facts that we have, that the yellow flag should have been triggered".
Sauschuck responds to the yellow flag comment by saying: "I'm not going to talk specifically about who knew what when we're still actively involved in a very dynamic situation here.
"We're focused on an individual that currently has eight warrants out for murder."
It remains unclear whether anyone had used the yellow flag law in the suspect’s case, but gun-control advocates since Thursday have blamed the killings on what they call Maine’s “weak gun laws.”
Under the yellow flag law, officials can detain someone they suspect is mentally ill and poses a threat to themselves or others.
The law differs from stricter red flag laws in that it requires police to first order a medical evaluation of the person and find them to be threatening before police can petition a judge to seize the person's firearms.
Suspect Robert Card reportedly had a history of erratic behaviour, including making death threats, and spent two weeks in a mental health facility before he was released.
Last night, the BBC's Nomia Iqbal questioned the senator about the law. You can watch that exchange above.
Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter
Image source, ReutersThat was a fairly long and detailed briefing there from Maine authorities. Let's just give you a quick recap of the key points:
Asked by reporters if he's concerned the trail is "going cold," Sauschuck admits: "Every minute this goes on we are more and more concerned."
But he says its an "honour" to have the ability to do something about this tragedy and says "there is no question in my mind" that the suspect will be caught.
"What's the next thing that is going to happen?" he adds. "That's why were working 24/7.
Finally, Sauschuck confirms officials eight of the 18 victims have been identified.
He says the families of the eight have been notified as he ends the press conference and walks off.
Sauschuck says shelter in place orders that have been in effect since Thursday will remain in effect with no clear sense of when they will end.
The decision whether to lift the order or not, Saushuck says, will be "an ongoing conversation we'll have every minute of every day".
"What matters to us is the safety of our community, safety of our residents," he adds.
Right now, shelter in place orders are in effect in four cities: Lisbon, Lewiston, Auburn and Bowdoin; all areas where "high activity" from the suspect was discovered.
Sauschuck takes some questions from the press and is asked about a note at one of the addresses.
He says one was found at one residence, but adds he won't be talking about it.
More from Mike Sauschuck, who continues to gesture at the easel with the satellite images - he points to the bowling alley and bar and grille scenes to say there will be extra officers in the area.
"There were a lot of shots fired," he says. "The suspect in this case is not in custody, that continues to be our focus."
He acknowledges there was "a lot of activity last night" at a property belonging to Robert Card - but points out there are dozens of areas authorities are searching.
Some of it is standard operational procedures, he explains.
"Just because we're making announcements over a PA system it doesn't mean the suspect is there," Sauschuck adds.
He notes that police look at the searches "as if the individual could be in there" so reporters will see "tactical teams" at the scene.
Maine's Commissioner of Public Safety Mike Sauschuck warned reporters that they're going to see "a lot of activity" in the Androscoggin River near a boat dock where the suspect's car was located.
"We will be checking for evidence... checking for potential bodies," Sauschuck said.
"I'm not telling you we think the suspect is in the water," he added.
Sauschuck said dive teams "from all over the place" were going to be scouring the area during the investigation, using tactical equipment, sonar technology and remote operating vehicles.
Mike Sauschuck goes on to show the press maps which illustrate where suspect Robert Card's car was found.
He says it was found in Pejepscot boat landing, before then going on to talk about how they will carry out searches in that area.
Police Chief David St Pierre hands back to Department of Public Safety official Mike Sauschuck, who takes a moment to reflect on the impact of the victims and the wider state of Maine.
He then says there have been 530 tips and leads which have come in from the public overnight.
Sauschuck adds: "We are continuing to check those things off the list as we go."
He says there are searches ongoing at the two primary locations of the shootings.
"I would expect that we're still days away from completing those particular investigations, those particular crime scenes," he adds.
Lewiston police chief David St Pierre is the first to speak during Friday's press conference.
He emphasised the effort law enforcement officers in Maine and "around this nation" have made, as officials work to find the gunman.
St Pierre said a "tremendous amount of law enforcement power, time and effort is being utilised around the clock", as he asked the community to remain patient throughout the process.
The press conference in Maine is about to start, so stay tuned as we follow the latest updates about the manhunt.
Officials have just wheeled a large map into the room.
You can watch the conference live by hitting the play button at the top of the page.
As we wait for more updates on the manhunt for the gunman, we will shortly be covering a news conference lead by officials in Maine.
Before the press conference starts, here's a quick recap on what we know so far:
Image source, Getty ImagesPolice searched for the suspect, a US army reservist, overnight
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier in our key point overview, we mentioned Congressman Jared Golden, who represents Lewiston, and someone who has changed his mind on gun laws.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday the Democrat said the attack led him to change his mind about opposing efforts to ban assault rifles.
"At a time like this a leader is forced to grapple with things that are far greater than his or herself," he said.
"Humility is called for as accountability is sought by the victims of a tragedy such as this one.
"Out of fear of this dangerous world that we live in, in my determination to protect my own daughter and wife in our home and in our community, because of a false confidence that our community was above this and that we could be in full control, among many other misjudgements I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle he [the gunman] used to carry out this crime.
"The time has now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why I now call on the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by this sick perpetrator of this mass killing in my hometown of Lewiston, Maine."
Quote MessageFor the good of my community I will work with any colleague to get this done in the time that I have left in Congress. "
Congressman Jared Golden, Democrat
Image source, REUTERSLewiston, and other communities like nearby Lisbon, headed into a second day under shelter in place warnings
As residents in Lewiston, Maine, remain indoors as the manhunt continues, the area has been described as a ghost town - with businesses and schools staying closed.
Only the sound of the occasional helicopter would break the quiet. "I've never seen anything like this, ever," said long-time Lewiston resident Peter Fertesky.