As the community of Lewiston, Maine, grappled with shock and mourning following a devastating mass shooting that claimed 18 lives, a dramatic turn of events ended the relentless search for the suspect. Robert Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist and firearms instructor, was discovered dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, law enforcement sources reported.
The tragic incident began Wednesday evening when Card allegedly carried out a deadly assault at Schemengees Bar and Grille, followed by another attack at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley. The horror that unfolded was particularly jarring, as it happened during a children's event at the bowling facility. "Who expects a shooter to go into a children's event?" lamented Kim McConville, who lost family members in the onslaught.
The subsequent manhunt saw involvement from over 350 law enforcement personnel and led to residents of several towns, including Lewiston, being advised to shelter in place. Streets, usually bustling with activity, eerily echoed silence.
Authorities launched a "full court press" to locate Card, distributing surveillance images that depicted a bearded man in a hoodie, clutching a firearm. The manhunt expanded beyond state lines, with even Canadian authorities on high alert.
Initial investigations led officers to Lisbon, a mere 7 miles from Lewiston, where they found an SUV, believed to be Card's escape vehicle, abandoned near a boat launch. This discovery further intensified the search, as Card was known to own personal watercrafts from Sea-Doo, prompting authorities to scour the Androscoggin River.
But as leads turned cold, the community was left in a state of heightened tension. That was until Friday, when Card's lifeless body was discovered near a recycling facility in the woods of Lisbon, a location holding significance as it was reported by CNN to be a place from which Card had recently been dismissed.
Robert Card's military background dates to 2002, but he had not been deployed in combat. However, unsettling revelations about his deteriorating mental health began to surface. Family members admitted that he started hearing voices. More alarmingly, it was revealed that Card had spent two weeks in psychiatric care in the summer of 2023 and had previously voiced threats against a National Guard Base.
Maine State Police have identified all 18 victims from the deadly rampage. As authorities and the community start the arduous process of healing, the nation joins them in mourning. President Joe Biden articulated the collective grief, decrying the "senseless and tragic mass shooting."
