Maine Mass Shooting Updates: Suspect Who Killed 18 Identified, More Details on Tragedy Emerge

In a horrifying incident that unfolded on Wednesday night, a Maine mass shooting left at least eighteen people dead and thirteen others injured, according to a statement from Governor Janet Mills on Thursday.

The state has been gripped by fear as law enforcement launched an extensive manhunt for the suspected Maine mass shooter, identified as Robert Card, per CBS News Boston.

As investigators delve into the motive behind the devastating shootings, sources have indicated that Card may have been targeting a specific individual, possibly a current or former girlfriend.

However, it remains uncertain whether this individual was present at either of the two locations where the shootings occurred.

Residents in more than a dozen communities, primarily in Lewiston and its surrounding towns, were urged to stay indoors and secure their homes while authorities scoured the area for the suspect, Yahoo! News noted.

Robert Card, the alleged shooter, is a 40-year-old Army reservist who had recently been committed to a mental health facility. A vehicle believed to be associated with Card was discovered in nearby Lisbon.

Maine Mass Shootings

The gruesome events unfolded at two separate locations in Lewiston: the Just In Time Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grille, CNBC reported.

The bowling alley bore witness to seven fatalities, while eight lives were tragically lost at the bar. Three additional victims succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

These two establishments are situated approximately 12 minutes apart by car.

On Thursday evening, Steve Littleson, CEO of Central Maine Medical Center, provided an update on the victims' conditions, with eight individuals remaining hospitalized.

Five of them were reported to be in stable condition, while three were listed in critical condition.

In response to the Maine mass shootings, President Joe Biden engaged with various Maine officials, including Governor Mills, Senator Angus King, Senator Susan Collins, and Representative Jared Golden.

The White House has extended federal support to local and state law enforcement agencies.

President Biden used the opportunity to call for bipartisan cooperation in enacting stricter gun control measures, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, safe storage requirements for firearms, and the end of legal immunity for gun manufacturers.

During a press conference on Thursday, Representative Jared Golden issued an apology for his previous stance against an assault weapon ban and pledged to work toward its implementation.

Maine Mass Shooter, Robert Card

Robert Card, the suspect in the Maine mass shooting, hails from Bowdoin, Maine, a town near Lewiston. He is described as 5'11" tall and weighing 230 pounds, according to CBS News.

Card had attended the University of Maine as an engineering student, though it remains unclear whether he graduated from the institution.

Additionally, Card has connections to Massachusetts, though the exact nature of these ties remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Notably, he is enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and possesses an active military ID, which grants him access to military bases.

Contrary to initial reports, it has been clarified that Card was not a firearms instructor in the Army Reserve stationed in Saco, Maine.

The alleged shooter had recently exhibited signs of mental health issues, including hearing voices, and had made threats related to a military base in Saco.

Reports indicate that he had been committed to a mental health facility for a two-week period over the summer.

In mid-July, leaders of the U.S. Army Reserve's 3rd battalion had raised concerns about Card's erratic behavior while stationed at the Camp Smith training site in Cortlandt, New York.

This occurred during their training at the U.S. Military Academy.

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Written by: Bert Hoover

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