Current Understanding of the Lewiston, Maine Mass Shooting

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Authorities have confirmed that a U.S. Army Reservist is responsible for fatally shooting a minimum of 18 individuals at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, this past Wednesday evening. An extensive manhunt is in progress for the suspect, 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin, Maine. According to a database overseen by The Big Big News, USA Today, and Northeastern University, this incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States for the current year. The database accounts for all mass killings since 2006, involving any type of weapon, where at least four victims were killed within a 24-hour period, not including the perpetrator.

Details about the Suspect

Related Coverage: Incidents of Mass Killing in the United States

An arrest warrant has been issued for Robert Card, who is accused in the Lewiston attack that resulted in at least 18 fatalities and 13 injuries. The Maine State Police have charged Card with eight counts of murder, and it is expected that this number will rise to 18 as additional victims are identified, according to Maine State Police Col. William Ross.

At present, Card remains at large and is considered to be armed and dangerous. A phone number that public records associate with him is currently out of service. According to an anonymous U.S. official who spoke to The Big Big News, military personnel had noted erratic behavior from Card as early as mid-July. This led to a police evaluation of Card, who was serving in the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment at the time.

Location of the Incident

Local law enforcement stated that an active shooter was present Wednesday evening at both Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley located approximately 4 miles apart. The latter establishment was hosting a children’s bowling league at the time of the incident. Lewiston, the second-largest city in Maine, has a population of 37,000 and is known for its increasingly diverse demographics, including a significant Somali population. Maine has a culture of gun ownership, often associated with hunting and sport shooting, and does not require permits for carrying firearms. The death toll from this incident is particularly high for Maine, which recorded 29 homicides in all of 2022.

Subsequent Developments

In the wake of the incident, a shelter-in-place advisory has been declared for Androscoggin County, including the neighboring community of Lisbon. A similar advisory has been issued for Bowdoin in Sagadahoc County. The Canada Border Services Agency has alerted its officers along the U.S.-Canada border, describing Card as “armed and dangerous.”

Medical and educational institutions in the region have taken precautionary measures. Central Maine Healthcare announced the closure of all its physician offices in Lewiston and six other communities. Elective surgeries at the Central Maine Medical Center have also been canceled. Schools in various communities, including colleges, have suspended classes as a precautionary measure.

President Biden has directed that all U.S. flags be flown at half-staff until the coming Monday’s sunset.

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Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News writer Lolita Baldor from Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lewiston Maine Mass Shooting

More about Lewiston Maine Mass Shooting

• The Big Big News Mass Killing Database
• USA Today Coverage of Lewiston Shooting
• Northeastern University Study on Mass Killings
• Maine State Police Official Statement
• Canada Border Services Agency Alert
• Central Maine Healthcare Advisory
• Presidential Directive on Flag Etiquette