Robert Card found dead with self-inflicted gunshot wound after manhunt - updates

Gov. Janet Mills thanks law enforcement as she claims Card is 'no longer a threat to anyone'

In a press conference on Friday evening, Governor Janet Mills of Maine and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck officially announced that Robert Card has indeed been found dead, most likely from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"This is vitally important to all of us that this conclusion came to light tonight," Sauschuck said of the discovery of Card's body, noting that he and the rest of the community and governmental administration are "very happy to say the threat is over."

Mistakes were made in the search, he admitted, but he said "this is by far the best news [they've] had in quite some time."

Card was discovered at 7:45pm near a river in Lisbon Falls, they stated, but more details were not immediately available about the discovery — just that it appeared that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"I'm breathing a sigh of relief tonight that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone," Mills said as she commended law enforcement for their more-than-48 hours of labour searching for him.

"There continues to be a lot of work that needs to be done here at the scene with the medical examiner's office. So, there is much, much more to follow," Sauschuck concluded.

Robert Card is dead

Robert Card has been found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found dead in Lisbon, Maine, just miles from the site where he shot up a bowling alley and bar and grill in nearby Lewistown, Maine, in what became known as the deadliest mass shooting event of 2023.

Senator Angus King confirmed that Card's body was found near a recycling center where he used to work before reportedly being fired. He was wearing the same clothes he was wearing when he slaughtered 18 people on Wednesday.

It's not far from where his car was abandoned shortly after the bloody mass shooting on Wednesday. It remains unclear how long he has been dead.

Fears Maine mass shooter Robert Card targeted deaf friends he thought were bashing him

The Maine mass shooter is feared to have targeted his deaf friends after growing paranoid they were bashing him behind his back.

Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex

The concerns emerged as anger grew in the local community over how Robert Card had access to a gun despite recently being admitted to a mental health facility after saying he wanted to kill. Tonight, as the manhunt continued two days after the massacre of 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, Canadian border services were issued an "armed and dangerous".

Thousands of police, FBI agents, State troopers, and other law enforcement have been drafted in for the search as divers took to a nearby river to try and determine if Card fled the scene by jet ski. While officials appeared no nearer tonight to finding the army sergeant reservist - an expert in firearms - Card's devastated sister-in-law, Katie O'Neill, told how his mental health spiralled in recent weeks.

As the search for Robert Card enters a third day, it is feared he targeted deaf friends (@CinemaShogun)

Law enforcement detains two during manhunt, as they continue to search for main suspect Robert Card

Police offer few clues in press conference update, continuing to search multiple areas with divers and sonar

A 10 a.m. EST press conference in Maine revealed very little about how close authorities are to catching up with fugitive Robert Card, as those details are either unavailable or being kept under wraps, with the police chief stating multiple times that "they will be everywhere" and that "doesn't mean they know where the individual is."

Police also disclosed that they're putting divers in the water today, near Lisbon Road, where there are two dams. Air resources will fly over the area to decide if where and when workers should dive down, depending on what can be seen from the sky.

The divers will be checking for evidence and potential bodies. The police chief did not elaborate on the last part, but did confirm that they had found a suicide note inside of a home they searched, and that they were not planning to release the note just yet.

The police chief said the department is utilizing sonar under the water, that can pick up shadows and allow divers to see debris in detail.

Mike Sauschuck, Department of Public Safety Commissioner, speaks alongside police at the press conference (WMTW)

Police ask for patience as manhunt enters third day

Police are no nearer to finding Robert Card after a press conference confirmed he is still on the run.

Lewiston police chief David St Pierre said a "tremendous amount of law enforcement power, time and effort is being utilised around the clock." He has asked the community to remain patient as they hunt the suspect, with divers set to search rivers in Lisbon.

Overnight officials confirmed they have recieved over 530 tips and leads regarding Card as they continue to search the two shooting locations for more evidence..

Investigators have recovered a mobile phone that belonged to the suspect, as well as a note he left behind, CNN reported earlier today.

Law enforcement officers hold rifles while investigating a scene, in Bowdoin, Maine (AP)

Update on manhunt suspect to be held at 3pm

A news conference regarding suspect Robert Card is scheduled for 3pm (10am local time) today.

Maine State Police said in a tweet: "A news conference is scheduled for 10:00 am Friday at Lewiston City Hall."

The 40-year-old remains on the run.

Canadian border guards warned to look out for 'armed and dangerous' suspect

The Canadian Border Services Agency has asked guards to be on the lookout for suspect Robert Card after an "armed and dangerous" alert was issued to its officers.

The alert was sent through an internal system yesterday and urged staff to be on alert for sightings of the 40-year-old, according to The Canadian Press.

The agency said all points along the border remain open. They added it is working with Canadian and US law enforcement officers to "protect Canada's borders against any threat or attempt at illegal entry".

Woman hit in arm by bullet 'bleeding heavily' as she shares mass shooting horror

A woman who was shot in the arm has admitted she is "one of the lucky ones" after hiding behind a bin during a mass bar shooting.

Jennifer Zanca, a former nurse, was having dinner with friends at the Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston on Wednesday evening when gunshots suddenly rang out. She turned around and noticed the suspect gunman Robert Card on a shooting rampage that killed 18 people and injured 13 in two mass shootings. Zanca was forced to use her hand as a makeshift tourniquet as she was "bleeding pretty heavily".

"We all turned around and realised what was happening, we dropped to the ground and that's when I think I was shot in the arm," Zanca told WCVB from her hospital bed.

Read more here

Jennifer Zanca was shot in the arm by the gunman (WCVB)

4 unanswered questions after mass shooting suspect killed 18 in massacre

As more details emerge about the mass shooting that left 18 dead and the gunman suspected of carrying it out, some questions still remain.

Just before 7pm on Wednesday evening, 40-year-old Robert Card walked into a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, with a rifle and opened fire indiscriminately at the Just-In-Time Recreation centre, which was hosting a children's bowling league at the time. A little more than 10 minutes later, police received a call that there was a gunman firing at patrons at Schemengees Bar and Grille, a restaurant around four miles from the bowling alley.

The Army Reservist was sectioned several months ago due to mental health reasons, and before leaving the Army base claimed he was hearing voices, as well as threatening to shoot up the National Guard base in Saco, Maine. The manhunt for the suspected shooter is now in its second day, with multiple theories as to how he has managed to evade capture.

Read more here

Mass shooting site becomes ghost town as shops shut and residents lockdown

After the most deadly mass shooting in the US this year, the usually-idyllic Lewiston has turned into a ghost town.

Shops have shut as residents in the Maine town have been ordered to stay somewhere safe inside as suspected gunman Robert Card, a 40-year-old firearms instructor, remains on the run. Schools and local businesses have closed to allow pupils and workers to remain at home while Card is at large.

The Maine town was subject to the most horrific shooting US residents have seen in months, with 18 people killed and 13 injured in the indiscriminate massacre at Just-In-Time-Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grill. One resident, Frank, said that in a town of this size “everyone knows someone” who died.

Read more here

Stores have closed all around the town (AFP via Getty Images)

Four theories on how mass shooting suspect has evaded capture during manhunt

As a huge manhunt continues for an Army reserves specialist who has been named the prime suspect in a mass shooting, there are several theories as to how he has managed to evade capture.

Police are on the hunt for Robert Card, 40, who killed 18 people and injured 13 more after he opened fire at two separate locations in Lewiston, Maine. He was sectioned several months ago due to mental health reasons, and before leaving the Army he claimed he was hearing voices and threatened to shoot up the National Guard base in Saco, Maine.

After revealing Card to be their suspect, police searched his home where they discovered a suicide note addressed to his son. Card had targeted a bowling alley hosting a children's league and a popular bar on Wednesday evening, walking in with an AR-15 rifle before opening fire.

Read more here

As the search for Robert Card enters a second day, there are several theories as to how he has managed to escape detection (@CinemaShogun)

Mass shooting suspect had visited bar before

Suspect Robert Card, who is accused of killing 18 people in mass shootings at a bar and a bowling alley, had visited Schemengees before, according to the dad of the slain manager.

“All of the people over there know him,” Leroy Walker told NBC News’ Lester Holt. “He would actually come to Schemengees; he’d been there off and on.”

Leory, who did not know Card personally but had seen him before, said his son Joseph Walker was the manager at Schemengees. He was tragically killed in the shooting.

Neighbour of Robert Card's family claimed he seemed 'perfectly normal'

A neighbour of suspect Robert Card's family has admitted he seemed "perfectly normal" weeks ago when he saw him at his dad's property in Maine.

“The last time I saw him was two weeks ago when he was helping his father hay this field right here. Perfectly normal,” Rick Goddard said. “I mean, there was nothing out of the norm."

The 44-year-old added “Hard-working farming family doing their thing, you know, nothing out of the ordinary.”

Rick admitted he feels "so bad" for his dad and the rest of the family following the mass shootings in Lewiston. “Nothing’s going to be the same,” Goddard said. “I feel so bad for his father, what he’s going to go through, the rest of his family. You know, it’s not their fault, but it’s going to fall on them. There’s no getting around it. It’s going to fall on them.”

Robert Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist and firearms instructor, has been named as the suspect (FACEBOOK)

Hero doctor 'sped through street with hazard lights' to treat patients

A hero doctor "sped through streets with hazard lights" after he got the call to return to Central Maine Medical Centre.

Dr Richard King was on his way home following a shift when just minutes later he was tasked with performing "damage control" surgery on a gunshot victim.

"It was a situation of organised chaos," Dr King said. "It was really quite surreal. We read about these events all too frequently, and then to be a part of one..."

He said it felt like "the entire hospital" rushed into the facility to help. "We really just did what we would normally do, just at maximum capacity and with maximum effort. It was inspiring to see how all our staff responded, how everybody stepped up to the plate," said Dr King.

Multiple victims were treated at hospital (AP)

Suspect's family urge Robert Card to surrender

The family of suspect Robert Card has urged the 40-year-old to surrender and turn himself in as the huge multi-agency search enters its second day.

Ryan Card sent a text message to CNN saying the family is helping police "in any way possible." They are encouraging him to surrender.

He did not make it clear if he had been in contact with his brother following the devastating mass shootings.

"The police have been given anything that we can offer to facilitate their efforts,'" he said. 'There are many people hurting out there, please focus on them... this is many people's worst nightmare."

Read more here

Schools to remain closed as huge manhunt enters second day

Schools will remain closed today in Lewiston as cops continue their huge search for mass shooting suspect Robert Card.

A shelter-in-place advisory remains in place for residents as officers search the city and surronding areas for Card after at least 18 people were horrifically shot dead on Wednesday night.

"No school for Lewiston public schools on Friday," superintendent of Lewiston schools Jake Langlais said. "We will not open buildings or run bus transportation."

Mass shooting suspect's sister says he may have been 'looking for his ex'

The sister of suspected Lewiston mass shooter Robert Card has said he may have been looking for an ex-girlfriend at the two shooting locations where he is suspected of gunning down 18 and wounded another 13.

Authorities are desperately carrying out a multistate search on land and water for the US Army reservist.

Card is accused of opening fire at a bowling alley and a nearby bar, sending panicked patrons scrambling under tables and behind bowling pins. He is still on the run gripping the entire state of Maine in fear.

Card's family are cooperating with authorities as more details of what appears to be a deeply disturbed man are surfacing.

Read more here

Card 'knows every ledge to hide behind'

Childhood friends died trying to stop gunman

Lewiston residents Mike Deslauriers ll and Jason Walker - who have been friends since kindergarden - both died at the bowling alley shooting while trying to stop the gunman.

The men had been at the centre with their families, and after checking their wives were safe decided to try to stop the attack.

Their friend Alan Johnson took to Facebook to post a moving tribute to the pair. He wrote: "They are the embodiment of true heroes. Mike was a friend of mine and fellow colleague. He was a the kind of man that would give you the shirt off his back, no questioned asked. He will be greatly missed. Please pray for both of their family members. Pray for peace, forgiveness, and comfort."

Jason Walker and Mike Deslauriers II (Alan Johnson/ Facebook)

Dad whose wife was eight months pregnant slaughtered in Lewiston shooting

Maxx Hathaway wanted to stay for just one more game of pool. It ended up being his last.

During the game, Robert Card opened fire at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grille, killing Maxx, whose wife is eight months pregnant with their third child.

Maxx was described as a "down-to-earth person" with an "uplifting attitude" by family and friends, who said he was also a stay-at-home dad to his youngest daughter, Lilian, as well as his unidentified second daughter.

Maxx Hathaway was a devoted stay-at-home dad to his two daughters, with a third on the way (Gofundme)

Kelsay Hathaway, Maxx's sister, created a GoFundMe page to help Brenda deal with the loss and parent the children, who just lost their father.

"I am writing this for my sister-in-law Brenda, who just lost her husband, my brother, in the mass shooting that has happened in Maine. Maxx has two daughters with a third one on the way. He was a goofy, down-to-earth person, loved to joke around and always had an uplifting attitude no matter what was going on," she wrote.

Heartwrenching tribute posted for 'true heroes' Joseph Walker and Michael Deslauriers, Jr., both victims in shooting

Joseph Walker and Michael Deslauriers, Jr. were childhood best friends, and on Wednesday evening, they both made "the ultimate sacrifice" — giving up their lives to protect those around them at Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, where Robert Card opened fire and killed several, including both men.

"They made sure their wives were safe and the children around them," community member Alan Johnson wrote on Facebook in a heartwrenching statement on Thursday. "Then, they tried to stop the gunman that entered Sparetime in Lewiston."

(Facebook)

Johnson described both as the "embodiment of true heroes." He said Deslauriers was "the kind of man that would give you the shirt off his back, no questions asked," and noted that he and Walker will both be sorely missed.

Walker had been a manager at Schemengees Bar & Grille, the other location where Card caused a bloodbath, which was near Sparetime.

Johnson went on to ask for prayers, peace, forgiveness and comfort for their familes.

14 of 18 Lewiston shooting victims identified by name as investigation continues

Law enforcement, friends and family members have identified by name 14 of the 18 who were killed in the senseless violence that rocked the small Maine city of Lewiston on Wednesday evening.

(Elizabeth Seal/Facebook)

Many of those slaughtered lost their lives at Schemengees Bar & Grille or at bowling alley Sparetime Recreation. Group events were being held at both locations that evening.

The names that have been released so far are:

1. Tricia Asselin
2. Bill Bracketts
3. Peyton Brewer-Ross
4. Tommy Conrad
5. Michael Deslauriers, Jr.
6. Maxx Hathaway
7. Bryan MacFarlane
8. Ron Morin
9. Joshua Seal
10. Arthur Strout
11. Bob Violette
12. Steven Vozzella
13. Jason Walker
14. Joseph Walker

Authorities wrap up search at Meadow Road home in Bowdoin without finding Robert Card

The police have abandoned their search of the home at 911 Meadow Road in Bowdoin, where shooting suspect Robert Card has been rumoured to be holed up. They did not find him at the address.

ABC News reported that the plethora of law enforcement vehicles that had surrounded the property Thursday evening are now departing the scene, not having found Card at the address, though fully executing the search warrants they previously told reporters they were there to execute.

A source told the outlet that there was no expectation of Card turning up at the address on Thursday night.

Law enforcement officers gather outside Lewiston High School, Maine on October 26, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)

It remains unclear what, if any evidence, the police collected at the scene. They said they were being as thorough as possible and following every lead they could.

The news of the law enforcement departure comes after rumours of gunfire at the address circulated earlier in the day, which were later refuted by the Maine Department of Public Safety. Drama also ensued when the authorities told reporters at the scene to turn their camera lights off, prompting many to take shelter amid what was described as a potentially "dangerous situation."

Maine representative goes back on longstanding gun policies and advocates for all-out assault rifle ban after shooting

Maine Rep. Jared Golden, who is a Marine Corps veteran and arguably Congress' most conservative Democrat, said in a press conference on Thursday that the heinous shooting that took place on Wednesday evening by Robert Card, 40, changed his mind about his gun policy.

Golden now supports an all-out ban on assault rifles, something he has a history of voting against.

"Humility is called for as accountability is sought by victims of a tragedy such as this one," he told reporters. "I have opposed efforts to ban deadly weapons of war like the assault rifle used to carry out this crime. The time has come for me to take responsibility for this failure."

(Androscoggin County Sheriff's Of)

He said he now "call[s] upon the United States Congress to ban assault rifles like the one used by the sick perpetrator of this mass killing."

Golden was elected in 2018, and in 2022, he voted against a bill that ultimately passed the House that would have banned assault rifles. It went through after a 217-213 vote, though it did not become law because it failed in the Senate.

Maine's governor launches website for citizens impacted mentally by Lewiston shooting

Maine's Department of Health Services has launched a website, spearheaded by Governor Janet Mills, to provide mental health support to those impacted by Wednesday evening's devastating shooting.

"My Administration has launched a dedicated website with resources for Maine people affected by the tragedy in Lewiston to connect with behavioural health support," she wrote on Twitter Thursday evening.

The website can be found by visiting this link.

(Anadolu via Getty Images)

It reads: "Maine people affected by the violence in Lewiston are encouraged to reach out and connect with behavioural health support. Incidents of mass violence can lead to a range of emotional reactions, including anxiety, fear, anger, despair and a sense of helplessness that may begin immediately or in the days or weeks following the event."

The website also contains links to educational resources as well as phone numbers and other contact information for professionals who residents can speak with if they need extra help.

Senator Susan Collins speaks out on state laws, stance on gun reform

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who represents the state in Congress, held a press conference following the horrific shooting on Wednesday.

She told reporters that she isn't sure whether or not she supports a total ban on assault rifles — Maine is known for its love of guns and for the Second Amendment, despite being a mostly Blue state in national elections — but she did say that she thinks it's important to ban high-capacity magazines, such as the one used in the slayings this week.

"There's always more that we can do," she said, noting that she favours the state's "red flag laws" and improvements to its mental health clinics — one of which Robert Card, the shooting suspect, had found himself in for two weeks over the summer.

She has previously sponsored bills to ban bump stocks, which exist to make it easier to reload weapons more quickly. She also advocates for an age limit increase for the purchase of high capacity magazines — she wants to raise it form 18 to 21.

Along those lines, she told reporters that she belives Maine's existing yellow flag laws "should have been triggered, especially since Card had been institutionalized this summer.

She has also historically supported bans on assault weapons despite having a more lax policy on other guns.

Father of dead bar manager said suspect had been inside before

Robert Card was no stranger to Schemengees, the bar where he slaughtered several on Wednesday in Maine's worst killing spree in history.

"All of the people there know him," Leroy Walker, the father of slain Joseph Walker, told NBC News. "He would actually come to Schemengees. He'd been there off and on."

Joseph, also known as Joey, had been a manager at the bar and was killed when Card walked in and opened fire. Leroy said he didn't know Card personally, only that he'd seen him before, the outlet continued.

The search for Card is still underway as hundreds of law enforcement officers from several agencies scour the area.

Robert Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist and firearms instructor, has been named as the suspect (FACEBOOK)

Internet search history of Robert Card shows 'conspiratorial content'

Ahead of the horrendous shooting on Wednesday, Robert Card allegedly "interacted with conspiratorial content" in his internet searches, reported ABC News.

His search history, which was obtained by the police, shows that he looked up topics related to the financial crisis and stock market issues faced by the US today, LGBTQ+ issues, gun rights and lots of commentary by Democrats, including President Joe Biden, the outlet revealed.

Even so, a motive for the heinous act has yet to be uncovered as law enforcement frantically searches for answers to the question on everyone's minds: why?

Maine Attorney General releases statement, stating he's 'prepared to vigorously prosecute these heinous acts of violence'

After Robert Card shot and killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Maine's General Aaron Frey said that he and his office are focusing their every effort on producing the strongest possible case against Card, 40, that they can to "vigorously prosecute these heinous acts of violence."

The statement, obtained by NBC News, reads: "Our public safety and law enforcement officials are working tirelessly to follow leads and gather information in order to apprehend the suspect and our collective support in these ways is crucial."

He added that his "heart continues to ache for the loss of life and infliction of harm perpetrated on the people of Lewiston" as he continued to encourage residents to shelter in place amid the manhunt, which has now reached the 24-hour mark.

(AP)

Nevertheless, he said he and his office have "every confidence" that law enforcement will successfully locate and apprehend Card, adding that they're using every resource at their disposal to do so.

"As citizens across this state mourn the tragic and senseless events that occurred almost 24 hours ago, it is important to give law enforcement the space it requires to conduct its work in this continuing and developing situation," Frey said.