LEWISTON – The suspect in the deadliest mass shooting in the United States this year has been found dead after a two-day manhunt. Robert Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Maine public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck.
The shooting took place on Wednesday evening in Lewiston, Maine, where Card went on a rampage, leaving 18 people dead and 13 others wounded at a bowling alley and a bar-restaurant. The incident prompted a large-scale manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement agents.
Authorities located Card’s body at 7.45pm in a wooded area near a recycling center in Lisbon Falls, southeast of Lewiston. Prior to the shooting, Card had been employed at the recycling center but had recently lost his job.
Governor Janet Mills expressed relief upon hearing the news of Card’s death, stating, I’m breathing a sigh of relief tonight knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone. US Senator Susan Collins of Maine also expressed relief, mentioning that President Joe Biden had contacted her to inform her about the shooter’s fate.
The victims of the shooting have been identified, ranging from a husband and wife in their 70s to a 14-year-old boy who was killed alongside his father. This incident marks one of the deadliest shootings in the United States since the 2017 massacre in Las Vegas, where 60 people lost their lives.
Card, who was an army reservist, had not been deployed to any combat zones. Reports indicate that he had sought psychiatric treatment recently due to auditory hallucinations.
The authorities had received over 530 tips and leads regarding Card’s possible whereabouts. The intense manhunt had caused fear and anxiety among the residents of southern Maine over the past two days.
With the tragic ordeal now over, the community can begin to heal as they mourn the loss of innocent lives. The implications of this shooting, particularly in terms of gun control and mental health support, will likely be topics of discussion in the coming days.
It is crucial for law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals to work together in order to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The safety and well-being of the community should always remain a top priority.
