Robert Card, the suspected gunman in a bowling alley and bar mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, has been found dead after a two-day manhunt.
Authorities confirmed Card’s death on social media, indicating that he “has been located and is deceased”. Initial reports suggest that Card took his own life. His body was discovered near the Androscoggin River in the Lisbon Falls area.
The incident marks the worst mass shooting in Maine’s history.
Several clues led to the discovery of Card, including a note addressed to his son, his mobile phone, and a gun found in a white Subaru recognized as Card’s vehicle.
The extensive search for Card, formerly an army reservist, spanned multiple locations and engaged over 80 FBI agents and Coast Guard personnel. While the US Army identified Card as a petroleum supply specialist and a Sergeant First Class in the reserve, an internal police memo revealed that Card had spent two weeks in a mental health facility during the summer. He had reported auditory hallucinations and expressed intentions of committing a shooting at a military training base.
The Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, expressed relief upon hearing the news of Card’s death and reassured the public of ongoing investigations to provide closure to the affected families.
President Joe Biden expressed his grief over the incident, stating, “This has been a tragic two days – not just for Lewiston, Maine, but for our entire country.” He appealed to the Republicans in Congress to step up and act to curtail the gun violence epidemic.
