Lewiston, Maine, Shooting: Things To Know About Robert Card
LEWISTON, ME — A manhunt was underway Thursday morning for a gunman armed with an assault style rifle who opened fire at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, killing at least 18 people and wounding dozens of others.
Authorities identified Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin, as a person of interest in the attack, which sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins, into corners and a back room around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Maine state police said an arrest warrant was issued for him on eight counts of murder.
Officials said at a news conference Thursday that at least 18 people were killed, and 13 more were wounded in the mass shooting.
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“I am profoundly saddened to stand before you today to report that 18 people lost their lives, and 13 people were injured in last night’s attacks,” Gov. Janet Mills said at the news conference. “In memory of those we lost, and in honor of those who were injured, President Biden and I have ordered all U.S. Flags and state of Maine flags to be lowered to half-staff immediately for the next five days.”
Maine State Police have issued a shelter in place order for lewiston, Lisbon and Bowdoin, she said, as the manhunt for Card continues.
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“Mr. Card is considered armed and dangerous, and maine state police advised that people should not approach him under any circumstances. I continue to strongly urge Maine people to follow the direction of state and local law enforcement amid this ever-changing situation,” she said. “Please, if you see anything suspicious, please call 911.”
There are still many things officials don’t yet know about these attacks, Mills said. She pledged to hold the gunman responsible for what she called this “atrocity” accountable under the full force of state and federal law, and to “seek full justice for the victims and their families.”
“We cannot, and we will not, rest in this endeavor,” Mills said.
See also: Maine Mass Shooting: More Than A Dozen Killed In Lewiston Rampage
The gunman wore a brown shirt and blue pants in the shooting. Authorities also released an image of a white Subaru Outback that may have a front bumper painted black.
Seven people died by gunshot wound at the bowling alley, and eight people died at the bar and grille. Another three died on their way to the hospital.
Here’s what we know about Robert Card.
1. Card was described as a firearms instructor.
2. He is believed to be in the U.S. Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.
3. A document circulated to law enforcement officials said Card was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks over the summer. It wasn’t immediately clear what his condition was or what treatment he received, but Card said he heard”voices and threats to shoot up” the military base.
4. Card recently lost his job at a recycling center, CNN reported on the air Wednesday night.
5. Card studied engineering at the University of Maine from 2001-04, NBC News reported. It wasn’t immediately clear if he graduated.
6. CBS Boston reported he has ties to Massachusetts, and police said the New England region should stay alert. His car was found a short distance from Lewiston in Lisbon.
7. Court records obtained by the Daily Mail showed Card was charged in April 2007 with a misdemeanor DUI by Topsham police. A month later, records showed he was guilty in the case. Card was fined $500, spent two days behind bars and had his license suspended.
8. Card’s X account, which has been suspended, showed he liked and followed prominent conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, and Dinesh D’Souza, the Daily Mail reported. That includes a March post that he liked from Trump Jr., which said: “Given the incredible rise of trans/non-binary mass shooters in the last few years… by far the largest group committing as a percentage of population… maybe, rather than talking about guns we should be talking about lunatics pushing their gender affirming bullsh– on our kids?”
It also includes a second post from D’Souza that said: “Ban assault weapons? Well, cars kill more people than guns do. But we blame the drivers. We don’t ban large or fast cars. We understand that cars, like guns, don’t act by themselves. The blame lies with the people who operate these mechanical devices. Common sense 101.”
NBC News reported, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, that police believe they know who the shooting suspect is and what vehicle he is driving. That suspect, who hasn’t publicly been identified, may also have a criminal record.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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