7 unanswered questions as evil shooter evades cops for days after massacring 18
The body of mass shooter Robert Card who gunned 18 people enjoying their evening was found putting an end to a terrifying 48 hour manhunt.
After killing 18 people and injuring another 13 in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, the army reservist disappeared with authorities mobilising hundreds of officers to try and find him. Three cities, including Lewiston, Lisbon and Bowdoin, were locked down with police having no idea where he was.
His body was found at 7.45pm on Friday at a nearby recycling centre near to where his car was found abandoned. He was found in an unlocked trailer in the overflow car park of the recycling centre. He was still wearing the same sweater he wore during the shooting. Despite the manhunt now being over, many questions are still left unanswered.
READ MORE: Maine shooter Robert Card's ex-wife and son 'were in hiding' with guns 'under lock and key'
What was his motive?
Robert Card, 40, was armed with an assault rifle when he walked into the bowling alley, where a children's party was taking place, and opened fire. He then drove to a bar ten minutes away and started shooting there as well.
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But what could drive a man with no apparent criminal record to massacre all those people.
These images of Robert Card were released following the shooting (@CinemaShogun)Many hoped a note written to his son would shed some light on his motive, but instead Card was revealing the passcode of his phone, along with bank account numbers. It wasn't an "explicit suicide note" but instead the note insinuated Card was going to take his own life.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said this is "not uncommon in a suicide situation." He added: "Clearly a mental health component to this." Police say they believe he bought the weapons used legally.
Card's mental health is under much scrutiny since the shooting. Mr Sauschuck said: "The individual felt people were talking about him. That he was hearing voices." But he also pointed out that millions of people suffer mental health issues without hurting anyone.
The Sparetime Recreation - the bowling facility which was targeted in the shooting (AP)Card's family were very cooperative with authorities looking for the shooter. Card's devastated sister-in-law, Katie O'Neill, told how his mental health spiralled in recent weeks.
She told how they had tried to get help for her brother-in-law but failed as she revealed he may have targeted a bar and bowling alley on Wednesday evening, knowing his friends may have been inside. "I have known Rob my whole life," O'Neill said. "He is quiet but the most loving, hardworking, and kind person that I know. But in the past year, he had an acute episode of mental health, and it's been a struggle."
How he evaded police for 48 hours
Despite police from across Maine, other states and even Canada mobilising in the hunt for Card, he wasn't found for 48 hours.
His body was found near to where his car was dumped in the back of a large trailer used by the recycling plant. Police teams had already searched the centre, twice before eventually finding Card's body, authorities said Saturday.
Authorities carried out a two day manhunt before they found Card dead (AP)Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said the teams that scoured the Maine Recycling Corp. property, including a tactical team, on Thursday night. He said another state police team returned to the site Friday and found Robert Card's body in a location that hadn't been searched.
So many have been left asking how police missed the spot in the first two searches. Or if Card was hiding and doubled back to where he took his own life.
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Law enforcement personnel work outside Schemengees Bar and Grille which was also targeted in the attack (CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)How long was he planning the attack
The attacks happened so quickly in locations kilometres apart, that many were left thinking there could be two shooters.
Card's vehicle was later found by a nearby river and he was discovered to be a boat owner. This led the coastguard to be scrambled. It all seemed very well planned. He had even left a note for his son. Investigators will be trying to discover how long he was planning the attack for.
Did authorities miss a chance to stop the attack
Concerns for Card's mental health were raised long before the massacre. His family said he was hearing voices that were mocking him.
18 people were killed in the shooting (Getty Images)Two senior law enforcement officials also said the gunman's commanders in the army reserve sent him to receive psychiatric treatment over the summer over threats he made to the base.
Despite all this he could buy an assault rifle in the days before the killings. Many have been left asking if crucial moments to intervene were missed.
How long was he dead before police found him
Although found on Friday night, it will take until the autopsy comes back to figure out how long Card was lying there dead before police discovered the body.
Once that is figured out, questions will be asked about if police missed out on bringing the terrifying 48 hour manhunt to an end sooner.
Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck speaks about the search at a press conference earlier this week (WMTW)Were the businesses targeted
In between the bowling alley and the bar hit by Card, there are countless other places that could have been targeted. The precision of the two massacres has left many wondering if the evil gunman had chosen these businesses for a reason.
Police will be desperately trying to figure this out.
Will anything change in the US?
He evaded police for two days before he was found dead. It is not known how long he was dead for before he was discovered (AFP via Getty Images)Anyone who follows US news will know that massacres like this one are far from rare. In the wake of such atrocities, lawmakers often try to introduce gun control to prevent wannabe killers having access to such high powered weaponry.
Barely four years before Card's massacre the governor signed a law aimed at preventing a mass shooting like this one.
Lewiston's Chief of Police David St. Pierre speaks to the media about Robert Card on Friday after he was found dead (Getty Images)It was called a “yellow flag” law, different from the “red flag” laws cropping up in other states to seize weapons from gun owners viewed as a threat. In a sign of the pro-Second Amendment mindset in Maine, a gun-rights group helped write the law, and critics said that, while it was a first step toward stronger gun safety measures, the state could save more lives by doing more — like passing a red flag law.
But the killing happened none-the-less. What will it take for legislators to put a stop to mass shootings?
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