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Robert Card, who is 40 years old, was discovered several days after a lengthy search carried out by both local and federal authorities. This search took place following a tragic mass shooting in which 18 individuals lost their lives and 13 others were injured. It is considered the most deadly mass shooting so far this year.
Certain areas of Maine, such as Lewiston and Bowdoin, have been advised to shelter-in-place due to the recent tragedy. The community is shaken by the event and is eagerly awaiting the apprehension of Card, who is considered “armed and dangerous” by the police.
He was believed to be carrying a high-powered assault-style rifle and possibly extra ammunition. Investigators are still on the hunt for Card, as of Thursday afternoon.
This is the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
Several months prior to the tragic assaults, Card, a member of the US Army reserves, was allegedly confined to a psychiatric facility for several weeks during the summer. Military officials expressed concern and prompted police to take him in for evaluation in July. Similarly, Karen Card, the suspect’s sister-in-law, disclosed to The Daily Beast that “within the last year, he experienced a severe mental health episode and it has been challenging.” She also stated that since being discharged from the facility, “things have progressively worsened.”
Just minutes prior to 7pm on Wednesday evening, gunshots were discharged at Just-in-Time Recreation, which is a bowling alley located on Mollison Way in Lewiston, Maine.
At 7:08pm, several emergency calls reported a person with a gun at Schemengees Bar and Grill on Lincoln Street, only four miles away from the bowling alley.
At approximately 8pm, Maine State Police advised Lewiston residents to remain indoors. “Please remain in your home and secure all doors,” the department stated. Authorities are currently conducting investigations at various locations.
At 8:06pm, authorities shared a picture of the individual who fired the gun with the press. An hour and a half afterwards, the Lewiston Police Department was notified that the person in the photos was Card, as reported by officials on Saturday morning. The initial calls came from Card’s relatives.
At 9:56pm, state police officers notified that they had located a “vehicle of interest” at Pejepscot Boat Launch in Lisbon, resulting in the shelter-in-place advisory being expanded to include Lisbon. A picture of a white Subaru station wagon was shared by the Lewiston Police on Wednesday evening. According to the police, the vehicle belonged to Card and a long gun was discovered inside it.
The police released a photograph of the vehicle belonging to the suspect in the shooting.
At 10pm, authorities in Androscoggin County enforced a county-wide shelter-in-place directive. The search for the suspect persisted into the following day.
At 6am on Thursday, the state police instructed Bowdoin residents, where Card resides, to remain indoors. The department also stated that more than 100 investigators were actively searching for Card.
During a press conference on Thursday at 10:30am, authorities confirmed that the shooting resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals and left 13 others wounded. An arrest warrant was issued for Card on eight charges of murder. According to State Police Colonel William Ross, additional charges will be filed as more victims are identified. As of Thursday morning, 10 individuals have not yet been identified.
Robert Card
On Friday night, authorities discovered Card’s body inside a box trailer in the overflow lot of Maine Recycling Corporation. It is believed that he committed suicide. It is uncertain how Card ended up at the recycling facility, but it is thought that he walked from the boat landing using a connecting trail.
The authorities stated that they had previously inspected the facility two times before being contacted by the owner of the recycling plant. The owner informed them that the suspect, Card, was familiar with the facility. Although police did not confirm if Card was working there during the shooting, there have been reports that he was recently let go from his job at the plant. As a result, police searched through approximately 55 to 60 trailers in the lot and discovered Card with two firearms.
“The search has ended and Maine Governor Janet Mills announced at a press conference that the person is deceased. She expressed her gratitude to the officers who were part of the manhunt and stated that she, like many others, can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Robert Card is no longer a danger to anyone. It is now time for healing.”
The tragedy was also addressed by President Biden, who urged Congress to approve gun safety laws. In a statement on Saturday, he stated that it is unacceptable for Americans to have to live in fear and called on Republican members of Congress to fulfill their duty of keeping citizens safe. He also stated that he will do everything within his ability to put an end to the epidemic of gun violence, as it is what the community of Lewiston and all Americans deserve.
Source: independent.co.uk
