When asked by reporters whether the authorities have any indication that Card may have killed himself and his body might be in the river, Sauschuck said officials were exploring all possibilities.
“We clearly don’t have him located at this point. We don’t have him in custody, so all of those options are on the table,” Sauschuck said. “We certainly don’t want to wait too long because the river is a big piece of this.”
Authorities are under mounting pressure to find Card. Sauschuck appeared to grow visibly frustrated when asked whether law enforcement agencies had received warnings about the suspect before the attack.
The public safety official did not directly answer the question, saying: “The reality for today is, I’m not going to talk specifically about who knew what and when. We’re still actively involved in a very dynamic situation here, and we’re focused on an individual who currently has eight warrants out for murder.”
Lewiston and the neighboring communities of Auburn, Lisbon and Bowdoin were still under shelter-in-place orders Friday, according to Sauschuck.
Authorities could benefit from unseasonably mild temperatures in the region. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McFee told reporters Friday that “it’s not cold at all” and it was “decent outside” as officers continued their search.
In a dramatic scene Thursday night, officers swarmed a home in Bowdoin owned by Card’s relatives. They yelled out for the suspect to surrender, but apparently he wasn’t there.
Investigators were combing through more than 530 tips and leads that have come pouring in since the deadly shootings, which left 13 people injured, Sauschuck said.
There are still victims in critical condition, but if the death toll remains at 18, Card’s killing spree would be among the deadliest in modern U.S. history. In other such attacks, the suspects were quickly arrested, killed, died by suicide or surrendered, according to data compiled by NBC News.
The Maine State Police are spearheading the hunt, working with the FBI; U.S. Marshals; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Boston and New York City police departments.
George Solis reported from Lisbon, Daniel Arkin and David K. Li reported from New York City.
Madelyn Urabe contributed.