Article: US Army Reservist Manhunt: 18 Dead, 13 Injured in Maine Mass Shooting
A manhunt launched in Maine for a US Army reservist has shaken the state, leaving 18 people dead and 13 wounded in a horrifying mass shooting incident. Local authorities, accompanied by heavily armed police, surrounded a home near Bowdoin, urging the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Robert Card, to surrender peacefully.
The search for Card has garnered immense attention, with hundreds of law enforcement agents, including FBI personnel, combing the area to apprehend the assailant. The shootings, which occurred at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, triggered panic among patrons who sought refuge under tables and behind bowling pins. The entire state of Maine has been gripped by fear, leading to numerous closures including schools, doctor’s offices, and grocery stores, while people in cities as far as 80 kilometers away stayed behind locked doors.
As a mark of solidarity, President Joe Biden ordered all US flags to be flown at half-staff, while condolences poured in from around the nation and beyond. Acclaimed author and Maine native Stephen King expressed his dismay, describing the incidents as madness. The devastating attacks have shocked the state, which boasts one of the country’s lowest homicide rates, with just 29 killings recorded in all of 2022.
Card, who has a history of mental health issues, is deemed armed and dangerous. Individuals are urged to refrain from approaching him and to report any information to the authorities. The suspect underwent a mental health evaluation in mid-July after exhibiting erratic behavior within his reserve regiment, according to a US official.
Law enforcement has not confirmed whether Card has been seen since the shootings occurred. The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released two photos showing the suspect entering the bowling alley with a rifle raised to his shoulder. The specific weapon(s) used and how Card obtained them remains undisclosed.
The manhunt intensified as FBI agents, along with other armed officers, gathered near Card’s relatives’ residences in Bowdoin. With approximately 80 FBI agents and multiple federal, state, and local police involved in the search, Republican US Senator Susan Collins noted the extensive resources dedicated to finding the suspect.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued an armed and dangerous alert to the Canada Border Services Agency, urging vigilance along the Canada-US border. Maine Governor Janet Mills has vowed to spare no effort in capturing Card and ensuring accountability, justice, and support for the victims and their families.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout Maine, a small state with a population of only 1.3 million. The ongoing manhunt is marked by a sense of urgency and determination as law enforcement agencies strive to bring closure to this devastating incident.
Keywords: US Army reservist, manhunt, Maine, mass shooting, Lewiston, Robert Card, mental health issues, FBI, shootings, bowling alley, bar, armed and dangerous, Canada border, Janet Mills, tragedy
