The suspect in the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 18 people in the state of Maine has been discovered deceased. Robert Card, a sergeant at a US Army Reserve base, had been the target of an intense manhunt following the tragic events that unfolded on a fateful Wednesday night.
The deadly rampage took place across two locations—a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston, Maine. Eighteen lives were lost, and another 13 individuals sustained injuries during the violent attacks.
Maine Governor Janet Mills expressed relief at the news of Card’s demise, stating, “Like many people, I am breathing a sigh of relief tonight, knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone.”
Robert Card, 40 years old, is believed to have taken his own life through a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to reports from multiple media outlets, citing law enforcement sources. His lifeless body was discovered in the woods near the town of Lisbon, not far from where his abandoned vehicle had been located shortly after the shootings.
Authorities had revealed the existence of a suicide note addressed to Card’s son, although the note did not provide a clear motive for the shooting spree.
Card’s troubled history included a battle with mental illness, as he had been committed to a psychiatric facility for a two-week period earlier in the year.
Furthermore, a law enforcement bulletin issued after the shootings disclosed that Card had reported auditory hallucinations and made threats to carry out an attack on a National Guard base.
The discovery of Card’s lifeless body marked the conclusion of a gruelling 48-hour manhunt, following what is now considered the deadliest shooting incident in Maine’s modern history. Maine, a sparsely populated state situated in the northeastern United States’ New England region, had never before witnessed such a devastating event.
The victims of this tragic rampage, ranging in age from 14 to 76, encompassed a diverse group, including a father and son enjoying a night of bowling and a sign language interpreter.
This horrifying event stands as the most deadly mass shooting in the United States this year, eclipsing any prior incidents in terms of the number of lives lost. It is only surpassed by the Las Vegas massacre of 2017 when a gunman claimed the lives of 60 people during a crowded music festival.
In response to the tragedy, US President Joe Biden condemned the senseless and tragic attacks and reiterated his call to Congress for the enactment of universal background checks and bans on so-called assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The nation grapples with yet another painful reminder of the urgent need for meaningful gun control measures to prevent such devastating events in the future.
