Last Wednesday evening, October 30th, 18 people were killed in a mass shooting in Lewiston Maine. The gunman who was identified as Robert Card, 40, entered the Sparetime Recreation Bar and opened fire on several people, killing seven and putting three in critical care. When authorities arrived on scene, Card had already fled. Just about 10 minutes later, police were called to a shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grille, a business just 4 miles away from Sparetime, in which eight other people were killed and several more injured.
At around 8pm, authorities initiated a county wide manhunt, publicly identifying Card as a “person of interest”. Several businesses and schools in the Lewiston area were advised to shut down by the local government during the manhunt. Authorities stated that Card should be considered “armed and dangerous”.
On Friday, Nov 1st, the manhunt was concluded as Card was found dead in a trailer parked in the overflow lot of his workplace. His death was attributed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the same day.
Card was a US army reservist, with an active military ID. Family of Robert Card reportedly had contacted police multiple times for the weeks prior to the shooting, as Card had admitted to his family that he’s been “hearing voices”, while having full access to firearms. Local authorities have since been scrutinized for their lack of concern regarding Card.
President Biden and first lady Jil lBiden visited Lewiston Friday, November 3rd, mourning those whose lives were lost and speaking with the families of the victims. “You know as we mourn today in Maine, this tragedy opens a painful, painful wounds all across the country,” the president said, “Far too many Americans have now had a family member killed or injured as a result of gun violence. That is not normal, and we cannot accept it.”
