Maine mass shooting suspect, Robert Card, found dead after 2-day manhunt, officials confirm

After a relentless two-day manhunt, Robert Card, the prime suspect in the devastating mass shooting that claimed the lives of 18 individuals in Lewiston, Maine, has been discovered deceased, confirmed by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office on Friday.

Law enforcement sources revealed that Card’s body was found near a recycling plant in the Lisbon area, where he had taken his own life through a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as stated by Mike Sauschuck, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, during a news conference on Friday night.

The body was located close to the Androscoggin River in Lisbon, approximately 8 miles southwest of Lewiston, around 7:45 p.m. local time. Prior to this discovery, Card’s vehicle, a white Subaru Outback, had been found abandoned near a riverboat launch.

Maine Governor Janet Mills informed President Biden of the suspect’s demise, expressing relief that Card no longer poses a threat. President Biden, in his own statement, termed the events as tragic for not just Lewiston but the entire nation, urging Congressional action to address gun violence.

The extensive manhunt involved hundreds of state and local law enforcement officers and federal agents who scoured the area since the shootings occurred on Wednesday night.

The tragic spree began with a shooting at Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, followed by another at Schemengees Bar and Grille, resulting in multiple casualties. Investigations unveiled the suspect’s troubled mental health history and a potential connection to a specific individual, but it remains uncertain whether the individual was present during the attacks.

The victims, spanning from a 14-year-old to a 76-year-old, included various community members, a bar manager, a bowling instructor, and participants in a cornhole tournament for deaf athletes.

Attorney General Merrick Garland acknowledged the resolution of the manhunt, emphasizing that nothing can reverse the lives lost or the suffering caused by the assailant. Senator Susan Collins praised the tireless efforts of the first responders in bringing the manhunt to its conclusion.