Maine mass shooting: Police search river near Lewiston in hunt for Robert Card

But a public safety chief has said: “We’re not saying the suspect is in the water”.

In addition, a suspected suicide note has been found at the home of Mr Card.

Mr Card has eluded capture for two days since the massacres on Wednesday. Police say they are investigating 530 tips and leads.

The murders occurred across two venues in Lewiston, north of Maine’s largest city of Portland.

The area remains in lockdown.

Seven people were found dead at the Just In Time bowling alley (formerly known as Sparetime Recreation), six men and one woman who all died of gunshot wounds.

A further eight died at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant. The bar was holding a sporting event organised by American Deaf Cornhole.

Three people died in hospital. Thirteen people were wounded.

All of the victims have been identified either by police or families. They range in age from 14-year-old Aaron Young, who died alongside his father Bill at the bowling alley, to 76-year-old Bob Violette who was a children’s bowling instructor. He died alongside his wife Lucy, reportedly protecting children from the gunman.

Michael Deslauriers II and Jason Walker reportedly died while trying to charge Mr Card.

Another victim, Arthur Strout, had five children.

Several members of the deaf community were killed at the bar. Mr Card himself wore a hearing aid.

A family member has said Mr Card had a mental health episode after he used the hearing aid where he believed he could hear people insulting him.

Police have said they don’t believe the locations where the killings took place were randomly chosen and that Mr Card had connections to both. One of the venues may have been targeted in relation to his ex-girlfriend.

Police search river

A long time army reservist, Mr Card, 40, has so far successfully dodged capture. Police say a mobile phone that Mr Card carried, that could have led officers to him, was found discarded.

The US ABC network reported that police sources said Mr Card appeared to have “interacted with conspiratorial content” online.

These included topics on a financial crisis, US President Joe Biden, gun rights and LGBT issues. But it’s not know if this played a role in the shooting.

At a press conference on Friday, US time, Public Health and Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck, who oversees Main’s police, said a stretch of the Androscoggin River in the town of Lisbon, near Lewiston, would be searched by divers.

Mr Card’s car was found at a boat ramp next to the river.

“We will be checking for evidence … checking for potential bodies,” Mr Sauschuck said.

“I’m saying the suspect is in the water,” he added.

Mr Sauschuck also confirmed a note was found at an address reportedly written by Mr Card.

He said he would not be discussing it.

However ABC News has said it was suicide note addressed to Mr Card’s son. However, it did not give a reason for the killings.