US shooting highlights: ‘Dark day for Maine’, says Governor as 18 dead in mass shootings

Maine police on Thursday were searching for a U.S. Army reservist wanted for murder after 18 people were killed and 13 were wounded in shooting attacks at a bowling alley and a bar in the city of Lewiston the previous night.

In an expanding manhunt, police fanned out across southern Maine with an arrest warrant for Robert R. Card, a sergeant at a nearby U.S. Army Reserve base who law enforcement officials said had been temporarily committed to a mental health facility over the summer.

Police circulated photographs of a bearded man in a brown hooded sweatshirt and jeans at one of the crime scenes armed with what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle.

Lewiston Police said they were dealing with an active shooter incident Wednesday evening at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. A number of parents and children were at Sparetime as part of a children’s bowling league.

The bowling alley is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the Bates College campus, on the outskirts of downtown, and offers traditional tenpin bowling and candlepin, a variant found in New England.

Lewiston is the second-largest city in Maine with a population of 37,000. It emerged as a major center for African immigration into Maine. The Somali population, which numbers in the thousands, has changed the demographics of the once overwhelmingly white mill city into one of the most diverse in northern New England.

Maine has a longstanding culture of gun ownership tied to traditions of hunting and sport shooting. The state doesn’t require permits to carry guns.

The death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.

A warrant is out for the arrest of 40-year-old Robert Card of Bowdoin, Maine, in the attack in Lewiston that left at least 18 people dead and 13 people injured.

Maine State Police say Card is wanted on eight counts of murder. Ten victims remain unidentified. As more victims are identified, the counts against Card will probably grow to 18, Maine State Police Col. William Ross said.

Card, still at large, was considered armed and dangerous, police said. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.

A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Card was an Army reservist who had been taken by police for an evaluation after military officials became concerned that he was acting erratically in mid-July.

The official said commanders in the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment became concerned about Card's behavior while the unit was training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York.

The official said military commanders became concerned about Card’s safety and asked for the police to be called. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss information about the incident and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday highlighted his own country's consensus on restricting guns as he visited the United States during the latest mass shooting.

At a luncheon at the State Department during a state visit, Albanese recalled how Australia enacted tough gun laws after a gunman killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania in 1996.

"Indeed, it is the case that we look every time there is one of these events and are grateful that Australia did act in a bipartisan way to the Port Arthur massacre," he told the luncheon in the presence of Vice President Kamala Harris.

"My heart goes out to those who will be grieving today," Albanese said.

Republican Mike Johnson is the new speaker of the House, but the Donald Trump ally inherits many of the same political problems that have tormented past GOP leaders, tested their grasp of the gavel and eventually chased them from office.

In an early test, the mass shootings in Maine, Johnson said prayer was a proper response from the House. “This is a dark time in America,” Johnson said at the Capitol on his first full day as speaker.

“We’re really, really hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate at a time like this, that the evil can end and the senseless violence can stop.”

AP

n the ongoing search for the suspected shooter responsible for the loss of 18 lives in Lewiston, Maine, the family is making an appeal for him to surrender, according to the suspect's brother.

Maine State Police Col. William Ross confirmed the arrest warrant for the suspect, Robert Card, 40, which includes eight counts of murder during a Thursday news conference. The suspect's brother, Ryan Card, conveyed the family's cooperation with law enforcement efforts in a text message to CNN. He also revealed that they are urging Robert to turn himself in, although he did not disclose whether his brother has responded to the family's requests.

Ryan emphasized their commitment to assisting the police, stating, "The police have been given anything that we can offer to facilitate their efforts." He also emphasized the broader impact of the tragedy, adding, "There are many people hurting out there, please focus on them … this is many people’s worst nightmare."

Attorney general Merrick Garland issues a statement saying, “I am heartbroken for those who have lost loved ones, for those who have been injured, and for the entire Lewiston community. The FBI, ATF, and US Marshals are on the ground to provide investigative support and victims assistance services to our law enforcement partners in Maine.”

A US Army reservist suspected of killing at least 18 people in Maine had been taken by police for an evaluation after military officials became concerned that he was acting erratically in mid-July, a US official told The Associated Press.

The official said commanders in the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment became concerned in mid-July that Robert Card was acting erratically while the unit was training at the US Military Academy at West Point in New York.

The official said military commanders became concerned about Card’s safety and asked for the police to be called. New York state police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation, the official said.

The official was not authorized to publicly discuss information about the incident and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

AP

In a statement on Thursday, President Joe Biden referred to the Lewiston, Maine, rampage as "yet another senseless and tragic mass shooting." He urged Republican lawmakers to "fulfill their duty to protect the American people" and take action on gun laws, CNN reported.

President Biden expressed his condolences and concern, saying, "Once again, our nation is in mourning. Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief."

He encouraged residents in the affected areas to follow the guidance of local authorities and shelter in place while the suspect remains at large.

Furthermore, President Biden pledged full support, stating, "I have directed my administration to provide everything that is needed to support the people of Maine. We will continue to be there every step of the way."

Highlighting the need for action on gun safety, he emphasized that surviving gun violence is not a normal experience and urged Republican lawmakers in Congress to collaborate on critical measures. These include passing a bill to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, enacting universal background checks, requiring safe storage of guns, and ending immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. He stressed that these actions are the very least owed to every American affected by this latest tragedy.

“He should be considered armed and dangerous,” Maine state police colonel William Ross said of the gunman.

“Based on our investigation, we believe this is someone that should not be approached… If you come into any contact with this individual or someone that you think looks like this individual, you are to call 911,” he added.

Maine State Police Col. William G. Ross reported that a devastating incident claimed seven lives at the Just-In-Time bowling alley establishment, with one female and six males among the victims. Each individual succumbed to apparent gunshot wounds.

The grim toll continued, as Ross disclosed that eight individuals lost their lives at the Schemengee Bar and Grill establishment. Inside the establishment, seven males met a tragic fate, while one male was found outside, each bearing apparent gunshot wounds.

In the aftermath, several individuals were urgently transported to nearby hospitals. Ross shared the heartbreaking news that "Three people that were transferred to those hospitals are deceased, for a total of 18 people deceased at this time."

Maine state police colonel William Ross said on Thursday, “This is an ongoing homicide investigation and a search for the person that is responsible for it. We want to get ahead of ourselves. This is a very fluid situation… We are currently looking for Mr. Card right now.”

He added that suspect Robert Card was facing eight counts of murder and authorities have identified 8 suspects and were yet to identify 10 others.

"This city did not deserve this terrible assault on its citizens, on its peace of mind, on its sense of security," the governor said. "No city does — no state, no people," said Governor Janet Mills.

“All Maine people are sharing in the sorrow of the families who lost loved ones last night. Loved ones: normal people who were killed or injured while unwinding from a day of work, or while spending time with their family and friends, socializing,” she added.

"I'm so deeply saddened," said Mills, as she conveyed her emotions. She also shared a personal connection, stating that Lewiston was where she had worked for years and where she had met and married her husband.

Governor Mills revealed the significance of the community, saying, "Lewiston is where our own children went to school."

She acknowledged the shock of the incident, noting, "Our small state of just 1.3 million people has long been known as one of the safest... in the nation. This attack strikes at the very heart of who we are and the values we hold dear for this precious place we call home."

In a compassionate message to the affected families, she stated, "All Maine people are sharing in the sorrow of the families who lost loved ones last night... I wish I could take the pain off your hearts and your shoulders. I promise you, we will all help you carry that grief."

"There’s still many things we don’t yet know about these attacks," stated Governor Janet Mills. She continued, expressing her unwavering support, "The weight of my administration is behind law enforcement efforts to capture the person of interest."

She also highlighted the coordinated response, saying, "My administration is coordinating closely with local, regional, and federal officials to respond to this shooting."

Furthermore, Mills mentioned her direct communication with high-level government officials, noting, "I have spoken with President Joe Biden twice and also spoke with Vice President Kamala Harris as well as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas."

Governor of Maine, Janet Mills said at a news conference on Thursday, “I am profoundly saddened to stand before you today to report 18 people lost their lives and 13 people injured in last night’s attacks. Mr. Card’s considered armed and dangerous and police advised…people should not approach him under any circumstances.”

Maine Governor Janet Mills and other authorities convened a news conference to address the mass shootings that occurred in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday evening. This briefing takes place amidst an extensive manhunt for a person of interest.

The individual in question is Robert Card, aged 40, from Bowdoin. Lewiston police have emphasized that he "should be considered armed and dangerous."

Earlier today, the governor announced that a shelter-in-place order remains in effect for Lewiston, Lisbon, and Bowdoin.

In a proclamation issued by the White House, President Joe Biden has directed that flags across the nation be lowered to half-staff.

This solemn gesture is made "as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence carried out on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine", CNN reported.

The Army revealed critical details about Robert Card, the individual at the centre of a police manhunt following a mass shooting in Maine. Card, a sergeant 1st class, serves as a petroleum supply specialist in the US Army Reserve, boasting over two decades of service. Notably, he has no prior overseas deployments. Card enlisted in the Army in December 2002.

State and local law enforcement authorities have identified Card as a person of interest in the Wednesday shooting. During their investigation, they distributed images of a bearded man wearing a brown hoodie and jeans at one of the crime scenes. In the photos, he appears to be holding a semi-automatic rifle in a firing position.

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck stated during a press conference, "We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case to locate Mr. Card, who is a person of interest."

The search for the person of interest continues actively in the neighbouring community of Lisbon, as stated by the town's police chief, CNN reported.

"Please reach out if you see something suspicious, if something isn't right," Chief Ryan McGee emphasized while addressing reporters Thursday morning, characterizing the situation in Lisbon as an "active scene." He urged the community, saying, "If you look out in your yard, and you're like, that door wasn't open or that trailer wasn't positioned that way – if you see anything suspicious, please call us."

According to McGee, his officers have been diligently pursuing leads throughout the night and morning. He remarked, "We've had everything from people calling about, you know, noises in the basement, noises in the woods, suspicious people, gunshots, all night long since the incident in Lewiston."

In Lisbon, law enforcement discovered a "vehicle of interest," which had been a focus of the investigation. Previously, Lewiston police had been searching for this specific vehicle and shared an image of what appeared to be a small, white SUV with a front bumper painted black. Maine State Police confirmed to CNN that the image corresponds to the suspect's car.

Although these leads have not yet resulted in locating Robert Card, McGee stressed that anyone with concerns or suspicions about what they observe should promptly contact the police.

A shelter-in-place advisory was enacted on Wednesday for Androscoggin County, encompassing the community of Lisbon, which is situated approximately 8 miles (13 kilometers) away. Authorities took this action after discovering a "vehicle of interest" in the area. Subsequently, on Thursday, the advisory was extended to include Bowdoin, located in Sagadachoc County, AP reported.

In response to these developments, numerous local schools, including those in Lewiston, Lisbon, and Auburn, remained closed on Thursday. Additionally, schools as far away as Kennebunk, approximately an hour from Lewiston, chose to close as a precautionary measure.

Central Maine Healthcare announced on Thursday that it would be temporarily shutting down all physician offices in Lewiston and six surrounding communities for the day. Furthermore, all elective surgeries scheduled at Central Maine Medical Center were cancelled.

Multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DHS, and others, have partnered with local and state authorities in the hunt for a person of interest linked to the Lewiston, Maine shootings, CNN reported.

The FBI has dispatched numerous agents and support personnel, including evidence collection, SWAT, victims assistance, and technical specialists.

The New York ATF is also assisting Boston ATF in response to the active shooter incident and subsequent manhunt. Investigators are utilizing cell phone data, social media, and electronic records to track the individual's movements prior to the shootings and identify their whereabouts.

A news conference regarding the mass shooting is scheduled to occur at 9:00 pm IST on Thursday at Lewiston City Hall, as conveyed by Shannon Moss, the public information officer of the Maine State Police, CNN reports.

In the meantime, the search for Robert Card, who has been labelled "a person of interest" by Lewiston police and is considered "armed and dangerous," remains ongoing.

Portland public schools, the largest school district in Maine with approximately 6,500 students, has announced the closure of its schools on Thursday, CNN reported.

This decision comes as the manhunt continues for the suspect involved in the deadly shooting on Wednesday evening. The city of Portland is located over 30 miles away from Lewiston.