Lewiston shooting reports: Possible active shooter at Bates College sparks shelter-in-place; first details

Police in Lewiston, Maine responded to an “evolving” situation after Bates College warned of a possible armed individual, prompting shelter-in-place.

Updated on: Apr 17, 2026 8:39 AM IST

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Update: Lewiston Police said in an update at 8:45pm local time that they have determined that “no firearm was observed by family members or any other witnesses.” It added that “the individual has made no threats to harm members of the public.” The lockdown has nor been lifted.

Original Story: Police in Lewiston, Maine said they are responding to an "evolving" situation Thursday afternoon after Bates College issued an alert for a potential "armed individual" near the campus along with a shelter-in-place.

NBC 10 Boston reports that nearby schools and hospital around Lewiston's College Street, between Sabattus and Russell streets amid the ongoing police response. Bates also confirmed the lockdown in a Facebook post.

According to emergency alerts sent around 3:41pm local time, the Lewiston Police Department (LPD) was dispatched to the area of Central Avenue and Campus Avenue. The college immediately issued a shelter-in-place order.

A subsequent update described the individual as a male in his mid-30s, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and black pants. LPD has not confirmed id shots were fired.

Here's the alerts the university issued:

Bates College is located at 2 Andrews Road near downtown Lewiston, along the Androscoggin River.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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