Authorities Rescind Stay-at-Home Directive Amid Ongoing Hunt for Suspected Mass Shooter

Officials in Maine continue an expansive search, involving woodland inspections, family property explorations, and river-bottom surveys conducted by dive teams equipped with sonar, in an ongoing effort to locate an Army reservist suspected of killing 18 people and injuring 13 others at a bowling alley and a bar. The intensive manhunt entered its second day on Friday with the investigation also covering a possible suicide note.

After nearly 48 hours since the deadly incidents took place, authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order on Friday evening. State Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck revealed the identities and photographs of the 18 deceased victims, 16 males and 2 females, whose ages spanned from 14 to 76, during a press conference where he also requested a moment of silence.

Robert Card, the 40-year-old suspect with firearms training, has not been seen since abandoning his vehicle at a boat ramp on Wednesday shortly after the attacks. Sauschuck declined to indicate whether Card is believed to be alive or dead, stating that all investigative avenues are being explored.

The suspect allegedly initiated the attacks at a bar and a bowling facility in Lewiston, the second-largest city in Maine. Divers were dispatched to survey waters near a boat launch in Lisbon, in addition to a farming establishment in the same locality. Law enforcement vehicles were witnessed traversing various towns at high speeds throughout Friday.

Officials discovered a firearm in Card’s abandoned car and are conducting tests to ascertain if it was used in the violent spree. While authorities have confirmed the use of at least one rifle in the shootings, they have yet to release further details, including how Card obtained the weapon.

Investigative agencies located a suicide note at a residence connected to Card that was addressed to his son, but it did not elaborate on the motive behind the attacks. His cellphone was also retrieved from the premises, complicating the manhunt as cell phones are often used to track suspects. Additional evidence such as electronics was collected from properties linked to Card, and his financial records, social media activity, and mental health history are under review.

Long-time residents of Bowdoin, the Card family owns substantial land holdings in the region. The suspect is familiar with the local terrain, making the search more challenging, according to community members.

Federal investigators have been informed by Card’s family members that he had recently been hearing voices and had displayed an increased interest in the bowling alley and the bar. In July, while hospitalized in New York, Card had informed military officials that he was experiencing auditory hallucinations and expressed a desire to inflict harm on fellow soldiers.

Police have announced that Card will face 18 counts of murder when apprehended. Details about the victims of this tragedy have also been disclosed, describing them as valued members of various communities, including a youth bowling league coach, a bar manager, and several deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.

The incidents have had a profound impact on the state of Maine, which has a population of around 1.3 million and one of the lowest homicide rates in the nation. Governor Janet Mills emphasized the close-knit nature of Maine communities and said that many residents are likely to know a victim personally.

In light of the ongoing investigation, authorities have imposed a hunting ban in Lewiston and three adjacent towns for Saturday, which marks the beginning of Maine’s deer hunting season. The rationale for rescinding the shelter-in-place order was also clarified by Sauschuck, who cited its potential negative impact on community well-being.

While public buildings, educational institutions, and numerous businesses remained shut on Friday, Bates College in Lewiston has canceled classes and deferred the inauguration of its first Black president.

This incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States in the current year, according to databases maintained by multiple news organizations in conjunction with Northeastern University.

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