Maine mass shooting leaves 22 dead, 30 injured: Manhunt underway for Robert Card; who is he?

In a horrifying incident on Wednesday evening, a mass shooting unfolded at Schemengees Bar and Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, leaving 22 people dead and 30 others injured. The assailant, identified as Robert R. Card of Bowdoin, Maine, is now the subject of a massive manhunt involving hundreds of officers.

The Lewiston Police Department has officially identified 40-year-old Robert R. Card as a person of interest in the deadly attack. Card, described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve, is reported to be assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine. The police bulletin emphasises that Card should be considered “armed and dangerous.”

Documents circulated among law enforcement officials revealed that Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks during the summer of 2023. Although specific details about his treatment remain undisclosed, the documents mentioned that Card had reported "hearing voices and threats to shoot up" the military base.

A "vehicle of interest" linked to Card was located in Lisbon, Maine, as state police appealed to the public for assistance in locating him. Photos shared by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office depict the suspect wearing a brown sweatshirt and holding a rifle.

As the manhunt intensifies, residents of Lewiston have been instructed to "shelter in place" and "stay inside your home with the doors locked." The heightened state of alert follows the potential threat posed by the armed and dangerous suspect.

The FBI Boston Division is actively coordinating with local and state law enforcement agencies. In a statement, they expressed readiness to provide any necessary resources, including evidence response, investigative and tactical support, as well as victim assistance.

#FBI Boston Statement on Shootings in Lewiston, Maine. pic.twitter.com/Nny0D6fUr8

— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) October 26, 2023

Biden's response and statewide impact

United States President Joe Biden has offered "full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack," according to a White House statement. Maine Governor Janet Mills has also released a statement, echoing the instructions for people to shelter.

In response to the incident, local schools in Lewiston will be closed on Thursday. The shocking death toll from Wednesday's shooting surpasses the total homicides recorded in the state for the entire year of 2022.

The incident has reignited discussions about gun control in Maine, a state where permits are not required to carry guns. Despite recent attempts by gun control advocates, proposals to tighten gun laws, including background checks for private sales and a 72-hour waiting period for purchases, have failed. Maine's long-standing culture of gun ownership, rooted in hunting and sport shooting traditions, remains a contentious issue.