Authorities Locate Body of Mass Shooting Suspect in Maine Recycling Facility After Previous Searches

Law enforcement agencies had conducted two earlier searches at a recycling facility in Maine before ultimately discovering the body of Robert Card, the man accused of killing 18 individuals in Lewiston, officials confirmed on Saturday.

Michael Sauschuck, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, stated that the search teams examined the Maine Recycling Corp. property, which houses up to 60 trailers, on Thursday evening. A separate state police unit returned on Friday and found Card’s body in an as-yet-unsearched trailer.

Card, 40, a resident of Bowdoin and a firearms instructor by profession, was also implicated in the wounding of 13 people during a violent spree at a Lewiston bowling alley and bar on Wednesday evening. Authorities report that he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Jim Ferguson, the Boston-based ATF special agent in charge, informed The Big Big News that the firearms Card used were legally acquired. While declining to specify the number or type of weapons recovered from Card, Ferguson confirmed that it was “substantially more than three.”

During a Saturday press briefing, Commissioner Sauschuck mentioned that Card had a known history of mental health issues. However, he emphasized that there was no proof that Card had ever been involuntarily institutionalized. He also conjectured that Card’s choice of targets might have been influenced by his own sense of paranoia, believing that people were discussing him negatively.

Sauschuck further elaborated that a note discovered in Card’s residence was directed at a close family member and included a passcode to his mobile phone and banking information. While the note did not explicitly state suicidal intentions, the undertone suggested as much.

Life in the 37,000-resident city of Lewiston has started returning to normal after a protracted lockdown. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee expressed the community’s collective sentiment, stating, “We want Maine to be remembered as the community that united in the aftermath of this catastrophic event.”

Forage, a local café, reopened on Saturday after days of closure due to the police manhunt. Whitney Pelletier, the owner, displayed a “Lewiston Strong” sign, reflecting the renewed but somber community spirit.

Maine, a state with 1.3 million residents and comparatively low levels of violent crime, was shocked by the deadliest shooting in its history. A stay-at-home order was lifted on Friday, shortly after the announcement of the discovery of Card’s body was made by Maine Governor Janet Mills.

Robert Card had a background in the U.S. Army Reserve and had previously worked at the Maine Recycling Corp., according to Leo Madden, who managed the facility for several years. Last summer, Card underwent a mental health evaluation after displaying erratic behavior during military training.

As investigations continue, family members of Card, who have been cooperative with the law enforcement agencies, revealed that he had been hearing voices and had increasingly focused his attention on the bowling alley and bar where the shootings took place.

According to a database maintained by The Big Big News and USA Today in association with Northeastern University, this incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States for the year.

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More about Mass shooting suspect found

• [Lewiston Mass Shooting Incident: Latest Updates]
• [Who was Robert Card: Profile and Background]
• [Timeline of Law Enforcement’s Search for Robert Card]
• [Maine Recycling Corp.: The Site Where Card was Found]
• [Impact of the Shooting on Lewiston Community]
• [Maine Department of Public Safety Announcements]
• [Statements from Maine Governor Janet Mills]
• [Mental Health and Violent Crime: Understanding the Nexus]
• [ATF Insights on Legally Acquired Firearms in Crimes]
• [Family Assistance Center in Lewiston: Services Offered]