An update with news that police found shell casings and a building struck by bullets was posted at 3:30 p.m. Thursday

Bullets strike Lewiston building Wednesday night

LEWISTON — Gunfire was reported Wednesday night in downtown Lewiston, with some witnesses saying they had heard as many as six shots.

At about 7:30 p.m., a woman who lives near Androscoggin Avenue called police to report having heard five shots that seemed to come from the area of Bartlett Street hill.

“Something definitely went down,” the woman said.

Within seconds of the first report, police reportedly had extra patrol officers in the area.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, although police were still investigating later Wednesday.

Another man said he was coming back from a Pine Street store when he heard shots that seemed to have come from the Bartlett and Birch streets area.

“Just coming home from Wards (Neighborhood Market) and I heard six gunshots,” he said. “Cops were there in no time at all. Nothing much scares me, but I’m a little shaken up now. That was nerve-racking for sure.”

Neither witness wished to be identified.

For at least a year, Lewiston residents have been vexed by frequent gunfire, most of it reported in the downtown area.

In mid-December, a group of what appeared to be masked men exchanged gunfire in the area of Walnut and Birch streets. One man who was hit by gunfire was later charged by police for his role in the shooting.