18 people are dead in a string of mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. The gunman's still at large.

• An active shooter event occurred at multiple locations in Lewiston, Maine, according to police.
• Local authorities say the suspected gunman is still at large as of Thursday morning.

At least 18 people were killed on Wednesday night in a string of shootings in Maine, and people are having to shelter in place while the police search for the suspected shooter.

The alert to shelter-in-place in Lewiston, Maine, was made shortly after 8 p.m. as the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office reported that law enforcement agencies were investigating "two active shooter events."

The shootings took place at the Schemengees Bar and Grille, a restaurant, and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, according to Maine State Police Colonel William Ross.

Gov. Janet Mills said on Thursday morning that 18 people are dead and 13 are injured. The police are still searching "tirelessly" for the gunman, Mills told the press.

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

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

The Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed a man walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder.

Authorites on Thursday identified the shooting suspect as a 40-year-old man and said he should be considered "armed and dangerous." Investigators said anyone who thinks they may have seen the suspect should call 911 or a tip line at (207) 213-9526 or (207) 509-9002.

The shooting suspect was a former military firearms instructor, according to a state police bulletin seen by the Associated Press. He was admitted to a mental health facility this summer for two weeks, the bulletin said.

The document did not specify what the man's mental health condition was, but said he had reported hearing voices and had previously threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a military training base in Maine.

Police also shared an image of the suspect's vehicle, a small white SUV with a front bumper believed to be painted black.

Residents in Lewiston, Lisbon, and Bowdoin, Maine are still being asked to shelter-in-place as the manhunt for the shooting suspect continues.

Lewiston Public Schools said schools would be closed on Thursday, according a statement on their Facebook page.

"Please continue to shelter in place or get to safety," the statement read.

The Androscoggin County Sheriff did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Update October 26, 2023: This story was updated with the latest information about the death toll in the shooting, as well as the ongoing manhunt for the shooting suspect.