Robert Card is the primary suspect in a mass shooting that occurred in Lewiston, Maine, leaving at least 18 dead and 13 injured.
UPDATE: On Friday, 27 October 2023, Maine authorities confirmed that, after an intensive two-day manhunt, Robert Card was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Robert Card is still on the run, authorities confirm
The manhunt for Card is ongoing, with authorities describing him as “armed and dangerous.” Aged 40, Card faces an arrest warrant for eight counts of murder. Notably, he is a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserves.
The incident has rocked Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city, located about 36 miles north of Portland. Police have advised residents to shelter in place and report any suspicious activities.
Family members have also shed light on Card’s deteriorating mental health.
According to Katie Card, who is married to his brother, Robert Card began hearing voices a couple of months ago after being fitted for high-powered hearing aids.
His mental state rapidly declined, as he became humiliated and distressed by what he thought he was hearing.
Timeline of Maine mass shooting: Here’s what we know so far
The timeline of the tragic events in Lewiston paints a grim picture of the ordeal faced by the community.
The horror unfolded over several hours, with local authorities and law enforcement agencies scrambling to respond to multiple incidents, identify the suspect, and secure public safety.
The initial event transpired at 18:56 EDT (00:56 CAT) on Wednesday, 25 October 2023, when the gunman, later identified as Robert Card, commenced firing at a local bowling alley.
This was the starting point of a series of violent actions that would shake Lewiston to its core. Only 12 minutes later, at 19:08 EDT (01:08 CAT), the shooter had moved to Schemengees Bar and resumed his terrifying spree.
In response to the escalating situation, local police were quick to act. At 20:06 EDT (02:06 CAT), a shelter-in-place order was issued, urging residents to stay indoors and report any suspicious activity.
As authorities worked diligently to contain the situation, they released photos of the suspect to the public at 21:05 EDT (03:06 CAT) in a bid to expedite his capture. Following this, 12 minutes later, police announced a vehicle of interest related to the case.
The events following these initial incidents further intensified the urgency of the situation. At 22:52 EDT (04:52 CAT), Robert Card was officially named as a person of interest.
His vehicle was subsequently found at 23:57 EDT (05:57 CAT) at a boat launch in Lisbon. A search conducted in the Monmouth area led to the discovery of a note suspected to be from Card, but a three-hour standoff at a Bowdoin residence yielded no results in locating him.
This event is the deadliest mass shooting in the US since the Uvalde school massacre.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, it adds to a grim total of 565 incidents this year where four or more individuals were shot, excluding the shooter.