Hundreds of police from local, state, and federal agencies were searching on Thursday (26) for an armed man in the state of Maine, suspected of killing 18 people and injuring another 13 at a bowling alley and a bar in the city of Lewiston.
The hunt for the possible shooter, in a predominantly rural area with many potential hiding spots, blocked entire towns and the campus of Bates College. Residents were instructed to stay indoors for safety and to avoid approaching the suspect under any circumstances.
Authorities identified the man as Robert R. Card, 40, from Bowdoin. An arrest warrant for eight counts of homicide was issued for him, according to officials, who posted a photo of the suspect wearing a brown hoodie and carrying a military-style semi-automatic rifle.
What is known so far about the case:
(1) The shootings in Lewiston, a city with about 40,000 residents, occurred early Wednesday evening (25) at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley and at Schemengees Bar & Grille, about six kilometers away, police said.
(2) The U.S. Army’s public affairs office at the Pentagon said that a man named Robert Russell Card II, whose date of birth matches that of the wanted man in connection with the shootings, is a staff sergeant in the Army Reserve. Sergeant Card enlisted in December 2002 and has not had any combat missions. He was trained as a petroleum supply specialist, whose job involves transporting and storing fuel for military vehicles and aircraft.
(3) Seven people died at the bowling alley and eight at the bar, according to Colonel William G. Ross of the Maine State Police. Three more people died in local hospitals. Eight of the 18 victims have been identified. Authorities are working to identify the other 10 victims.
(4) This is the 8th mass shooting in the U.S. this year. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a mass shooting occurs when four or more people – not including the shooter – are killed by gunfire in a public place, and no other crime is involved. This is the one with the highest number of victims.
President Joe Biden, in a statement on Thursday, described the incident in Lewiston as “yet another tragic and senseless mass shooting” and urged Republican lawmakers “to fulfill their duty to protect the American people” and “to work on gun laws.”
“Once again, our nation is in mourning,” he said. “Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who lost their lives, for those still in intensive care, and for the families, survivors, and community members facing shock and grief.”
Source: The New York Times