Maine police searching for gunman check possible suicide note

A police officer gives an order to the public during a search at a farm (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)

Maine police have scoured woods and hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sent dive teams to the bottom of a river and scrutinised a possible suicide note in their search for an Army reservist accused of shooting dead 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar.

Law enforcement officials gave no indication that they have any leads on Robert Card’s whereabouts but they have lifted a shelter in place order for residents living near where the shootings occurred.