The manhunt continues for 40 year old Robert Card, a US Army reservist suspected of killing 18 people during a shooting spree in Lewiston Maine Wednesday night. Photo: Lewiston Police Department
UPDATE : Robert Card has been found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In a shocking incident that has left the community of Lewiston, Maine, in deep mourning, a shooting rampage unfolded on Thursday, claiming the lives of 18 people and leaving 13 others injured. The attack took place at a restaurant and a bowling alley, prompting a swift and furious manhunt for the suspected perpetrator, now wanted on murder charges.
Maine’s Governor, in a somber address, confirmed the devastating toll of the rampage. Schools in the area were closed, and residents were urged to remain indoors as authorities scoured for the accused individual, identified as US Army Reservist Robert Card. The Lewiston Police Department has officially named Card as a “person of interest” connected to the tragic event.
During a press conference, Maine State Police Colonel William Ross disclosed that an arrest warrant had been issued for 40-year-old Robert Card, emphasizing that he should be considered “armed and dangerous.” The arrest warrant specified eight counts of murder, but Ross indicated that this count may rise as ten victims remain unidentified.
Card’s background revealed troubling details. He is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserves. Officials in Maine disclosed that he had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine, and had reported mental health issues, including hearing voices.
Governor Janet Mills, while addressing the press, expressed the profound grief felt by the state, calling it “a dark day for Maine” and acknowledging the challenge of healing in the face of this tragedy.
The manhunt for Card has put the community on edge, with law enforcement officers conducting thorough searches of neighborhoods, urging residents to stay vigilant but not approach the suspect. Public safety officials have stressed the importance of not making any contact with Card.
In response to the tragedy, major Northeast grocery chain Hannaford Supermarkets has temporarily closed all its stores in Maine until at least 10 a.m. Public schools in Lewiston and Portland, the state’s largest district, with approximately 6,500 students, have also been closed as a precaution.
Nearby communities, like Bowdoin, Maine, have been advised to follow shelter-in-place instructions and school closings as the manhunt intensifies. Authorities are working tirelessly to locate Robert Card, who remains a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings.
The rampage began shortly before 7 p.m., leading to widespread calls for residents to shelter in place as law enforcement officers conducted a massive search for the armed assailant. Images shared by the Lewiston police showed a man entering a bowling alley with a high-powered rifle, further emphasizing the urgency and gravity of the situation.
