Suspect in Maine Massacre Found Deceased, Concluding Tense Statewide Manhunt

The U.S. Army reservist accused of a fatal shooting spree in a Lewiston, Maine bowling alley and subsequently in a local bar, leaving 18 individuals dead, was discovered deceased on Friday due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This development concluded a strenuous 48-hour search that had heightened tensions across the state.

Governor Janet Mills confirmed in a press conference held on Friday evening that Robert Card, a firearms instructor and native of the region, was located lifeless in the vicinity of Lisbon Falls.

“Tonight, there is some sense of relief knowing that Robert Card poses no further threat,” stated Governor Mills.

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April Stevens, a resident of Lewiston who was acquainted with one of the casualties, expressed a mixed sentiment upon hearing the news. “I feel a sense of relief, but not happiness. The scale of the loss and suffering is too great,” she commented.

Mike Sauschuck, Commissioner of Maine Department of Public Safety, indicated that Card’s body was discovered at approximately 7:45 p.m. near the Androscoggin River, roughly 8 miles southeast of the site of Wednesday’s second attack. While specifics about the location were not publicly disclosed, an anonymous official informed The Big Big News that the body was at a recycling facility where Card had previously been terminated from employment.

President Joe Biden has been informed of Card’s death by Governor Mills. In an official statement, President Biden expressed relief for the safety of the community but lamented the state of gun violence in the country, urging Congress to act.

Maine, a state with a population of around 1.3 million and relatively low rates of violent crime, has been deeply shaken by these events, which constitute the deadliest shooting in the state’s history. Citizens in Lewiston and neighboring areas were instructed to remain indoors as law enforcement agencies, including local police, sheriff’s deputies, the FBI, and other federal agents, actively searched for the suspect.

Robert Card, 40, a resident of Bowdoin and an Army reservist, had reportedly been acting erratically and had undergone mental health assessment last summer. According to an internal bulletin sent to police departments nationwide, Card had been committed to a mental health institution for a fortnight after expressing threats and “hearing voices.”

Over the past two days, law enforcement personnel had combed through extensive woodland and property belonging to Card’s family. Divers with sonar equipment were even deployed to explore the bottom of the Androscoggin River in the manhunt.

The names and images of the 18 victims were publicly released in a news conference hours before Card’s body was discovered. They included a range of individuals, from a retired youth bowling league coach to a bar manager who had confronted the shooter.

Several firearms were recovered from Card’s abandoned vehicle near a boat ramp, and are currently undergoing forensic testing to ascertain if they were used in the assaults. A suicide note addressed to his son was found in a residence associated with Card, although it did not elucidate the motives behind the attack.

The violent incident in Lewiston marks the 36th mass killing in the United States for the current year, as per a database maintained by The Big Big News and USA Today in collaboration with Northeastern University.

Additional Reporting

Contributions to this report were made by journalists stationed in various locations including Concord, New Hampshire; Portland, Maine; and Bowdoin, Maine, as well as additional correspondents from Big Big News located in cities across the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Maine mass shooting suspect found dead

More about Maine mass shooting suspect found dead

• Maine Governor Janet Mills’ Press Conference
• President Joe Biden’s Official Statement
• The Big Big News Coverage on Maine Mass Shooting
• FBI’s Official Report on the Incident
• U.S. Army Reserve Statement on Robert Card
• Maine Department of Public Safety Briefing
• Gun Violence Archive Statistics for 2023
• The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf Statement
• Northeastern University’s Database on Mass Killings in the U.S.
• Timeline of Events from Local News Outlet