AP Fact CheckFact-checkingMore Misinformation Circulates Regarding Maine Shooting Suspect’s Identity by Chloe Baker October 27, 2023 written by Chloe Baker October 27, 2023 6 comments Bookmark 39 Table of Contents CLAIM: Social media posts claim that a mugshot identifies the Maine mass shooting suspect as a registered sex offender prohibited from owning firearms.AP’S VERDICT: Incorrect. The posts erroneously conflate two individuals named Robert Card. The wrongly identified person is Robert W. Card, a 32-year-old arrested in 2016 for possession of explicit materials involving minors. The actual suspect, as identified by Lewiston, Maine, police, is Robert R. Card, a 40-year-old U.S. Army Reservist from Bowdoin.The Facts:Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maine mass shooting misinformationWhat is the main claim being fact-checked in the article?Who is the individual wrongly identified as the shooting suspect?Who is the actual suspect in the Maine mass shooting according to the Lewiston Police?How do the two individuals, both named Robert Card, differ?What source confirmed that the photos circulating online are of two different people?Were there any law enforcement agencies involved in releasing the accurate information?What precautionary measures have been advised for the public?How many mass killings have there been in the United States this year?What is AP’s role in this scenario?More about Maine mass shooting misinformation CLAIM: Social media posts claim that a mugshot identifies the Maine mass shooting suspect as a registered sex offender prohibited from owning firearms. AP’S VERDICT: Incorrect. The posts erroneously conflate two individuals named Robert Card. The wrongly identified person is Robert W. Card, a 32-year-old arrested in 2016 for possession of explicit materials involving minors. The actual suspect, as identified by Lewiston, Maine, police, is Robert R. Card, a 40-year-old U.S. Army Reservist from Bowdoin. The Facts: Following the violent incidents at a bar and bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city, social media users began disseminating a photo purporting to show the still-at-large suspect. The circulating photo portrays a young male with black hair, a full beard, and glasses, garbed in a white shirt. One Facebook user emphasized, “Robert Card, the suspect in the Lewiston Maine mass shooting, has prior arrests for child pornography and is a registered sex offender who is legally forbidden from possessing firearms.” Despite sharing the same name and residing in the same state, the man in the circulating photo is not the individual wanted for the Lewiston mass shooting. The misattributed image features Robert W. Card, 32, from Fairfield, Maine, a man previously convicted for possession of explicit material involving minors under 12, as per the Maine Sex Offender Registry. This photo originates from news coverage during his 2016 arrest and is also listed on the National Sex Offender Public Registry overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice. Conversely, Lewiston police issued a photo late Wednesday evening of the actual suspect, whose appearance markedly differs from the man in the widely circulated image. The Lewiston Maine Police Department identified Robert Card as a person of interest in relation to the mass shootings that took place in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The police department urged, “Robert Card, born April 4, 1983, is considered armed and dangerous. Please report any information concerning his whereabouts to law enforcement.” The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office additionally shared photos depicting the true suspect entering a venue with a raised weapon. Officials from both the Lewiston and state police departments did not respond to inquiries for comments as of Thursday. However, Sgt. Matthew Wilcox of the Fairfield Police Department, involved in Robert W. Card’s 2016 arrest, confirmed that the photos are of two distinct individuals. “It is unequivocally not the same person,” he stated in a phone interview. Judith Meyer, Executive Editor of the Lewiston Sun Journal, corroborated that the photos show different men. “The suspect is not the individual from Fairfield,” she clarified via email. The real suspect, Robert R. Card, is affiliated with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment. Authorities say he initiated the shootings around 7 p.m. Wednesday, initially at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, and subsequently at Schemengees Bar and Grille, located approximately 4 miles away. He evaded capture, triggering an extensive manhunt involving numerous officers, as residents across various communities stayed indoors, abiding by a shelter-in-place advisory. This incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States for this year, as documented by a database curated by The Big Big News and USA Today, in collaboration with Northeastern University. This investigation is part of AP’s ongoing commitment to counter widely disseminated misinformation. This includes collaborations with external organizations and firms to bring factual clarity to misleading online content. For more on AP’s fact-checking initiatives, click here. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maine mass shooting misinformation What is the main claim being fact-checked in the article? The article is fact-checking the claim that a circulating mugshot identifies the Maine mass shooting suspect as a registered sex offender who is legally barred from owning firearms. Who is the individual wrongly identified as the shooting suspect? The individual wrongly identified is Robert W. Card, a 32-year-old man from Fairfield, Maine, who was arrested in 2016 for possession of sexually explicit material involving minors. Who is the actual suspect in the Maine mass shooting according to the Lewiston Police? The actual suspect, as identified by the Lewiston, Maine Police, is Robert R. Card, a 40-year-old U.S. Army Reservist from Bowdoin, Maine. How do the two individuals, both named Robert Card, differ? The two individuals differ in age, criminal history, and physical appearance. Robert W. Card is a 32-year-old convicted sex offender, while Robert R. Card is a 40-year-old U.S. Army Reservist and the person of interest in the mass shooting case. What source confirmed that the photos circulating online are of two different people? Sgt. Matthew Wilcox of the Fairfield Police Department, who was involved in Robert W. Card’s 2016 arrest, and Judith Meyer, Executive Editor of the Lewiston Sun Journal, both confirmed that the photos are of two distinct individuals. Were there any law enforcement agencies involved in releasing the accurate information? Yes, the Lewiston Maine Police Department and the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office both released images of the actual suspect, Robert R. Card. What precautionary measures have been advised for the public? Residents across various communities are advised to stay indoors and abide by a shelter-in-place advisory while the suspect remains at large. Robert R. Card is considered armed and dangerous. How many mass killings have there been in the United States this year? This incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States for the current year, according to a database maintained by The Big Big News and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. What is AP’s role in this scenario? AP is committed to fact-checking and countering misinformation that circulates online. The article is part of AP’s ongoing effort to bring factual clarity to misleading online content. More about Maine mass shooting misinformation Maine Mass Shooting: What We Know So Far Lewiston Maine Police Department Official Statement Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page National Sex Offender Public Registry The Big Big News and USA Today Mass Killings Database AP Fact-Checking Initiatives Maine Sex Offender Registry Northeastern University Research on Mass Killings Lewiston Sun Journal Coverage on the Incident You Might Be Interested In Election in Ohio Focused on Abortion Rights Receives Significant Support from National Entities and Funds Family of Maine Mass Shooter Alerted Authorities to Concerns Five Months Prior to Tragedy, Says Sheriff’s Office Spread of Misinformation Precedes Ohio Abortion Referendum: Official Legislative Website Implicated Commentary: Donald Trump’s constant struggle with accuracy faces another trial with the electorate Digital Deception in Warfare: The Perils of AI-Generated Deepfakes in the Gaza Conflict Chinese Space Station Video Validated by Science, Not a Sign of Deception fact-checkingMaine mass shootingMisinformationSocial Media Fact-Checking Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Chloe Baker Follow Author Chloe Baker is a travel journalist who covers the latest news and trends in the world of travel. She enjoys exploring new destinations and sharing her experiences with her readers, from exotic locales to hidden gems off the beaten path. previous post Twitter takeover: 1 year later, X struggles with misinformation, advertising and usage decline next post Israel Anticipates Prolonged Ground Offensive in Gaza to Neutralize Hamas and its Extensive Tunnel Network You may also like Bookmark 1-2-3 and counting: Las Vegas weddings could hit... December 27, 2023 Bookmark “Anticipating a Record-Breaking New Year’s Eve: Las Vegas... December 27, 2023 Bookmark “Reviving Poinsettias: A Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Holiday... December 26, 2023 Bookmark AP Sports Photos of the Year: Capturing Timeless... December 26, 2023 Bookmark Unforgettable Moments in Sports: A Pictorial Journey Through... December 26, 2023 Bookmark Serial Killer Terrorizes Detroit Due to Police Missteps... December 26, 2023 6 comments SarahM88 October 27, 2023 - 9:34 pm This is why fact-checking is so important. Real lives are affected by fake news, not just the person wrongly identified but also it distracts from the real issue and investigation. Reply Mike_in_Maine October 27, 2023 - 11:53 pm As someone from Maine, it’s disheartening to see this kinda misinformation in my home state. We need to do better. Reply JohnDoe21 October 28, 2023 - 3:17 am Wow, its crazy how fast false info can spread these days. Good on AP for setting the record straight. Reply LocalGuy October 28, 2023 - 12:06 pm I live near Lewiston and the whole community is on edge. False info doesnt help anyone, especially in serious situations like this. Reply TechGuru October 28, 2023 - 1:31 pm misleading info like this can be super harmful. Glad there are organizations actively working to correct it. Reply Annie_Thoughts October 28, 2023 - 1:41 pm This whole situation is terrifying and it’s made even worse by people sharing false information. can’t people think before they share? Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ