On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, the second populous city of Maine was marred by one of the deadliest mass shootings this year. A 40-year-old man, Robert Card, armed with automatic weapons, opened fire at two bustling locations.
As per the Lewiston Police Department, around 22 people lost their lives, while about 80 people have been gravely injured.
However, the night takes a darker turn, as the police are unable to locate the suspect at large, who has been MIA since the shooting. The ME State Police urged people through social media to provide any information on the whereabouts of the perpetrators.
As of October 27, 2023, the Lewiston Police Department has been unable to apprehend Robert Card, the 40-year-old US Army reservist, who has been on the run since he carried out mass shootings at two separate locations. In the latest update, the police searched Card’s residence in Bowdoin, Maine, but he was not there. Meanwhile, his family is trying to contact him to turn himself in to the authorities.
New update
Did They Catch or Find the Maine Shooter?
Lewiston is a community of families and hardworking individuals who usually spend their leisure time at a few key spots in the city. Sparetime recreation is one such happening spot, and ideal for people to get together for fun bowling.
However, at around 6:56 pm ET, an armed man suddenly entered the alley and opened fire, leaving people to run for their lives, including children.
The suspect then went to a fine dining Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant on Lincoln Street. He began shooting everyone at sight.
The authorities were informed immediately after the first shooting itself. Ever since then, the police have been struggling to find Robert Carsd, who was identified through the CCTV footage on both locations.
After strenuous hours of chasing, the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) issued a warning of ‘shelter in place’ for the citizens of the city.
As per the latest updates, the police have not located the suspect as of yet.
Where Is Robert Card?
Here are a few bullet points on Robert Card per the preliminary investigation–
- The police first started with Card’s last verified residence at Bowdoin, Maine, with search warrants. Later, the FBI raided the property and found a suicide note addressed to his son.
- On further inspection, the neighbors said that Card was relatively quiet, reserved, and did not display any violent tendencies.
- According to Card’s sister, the motive of the shootings might be related to his ex-girlfriend. Apparently, Card was searching for his ex when he opened fire on innocent people. So, it can be deduced that the woman’s life might also be in grave danger.
- People of Lisbon and Lewiston are asked to remain indoors until they catch hold of the suspect while the manhunt is in hot pursuit.
- It’s been 28 hours, and Robert Card has not been found yet.
- Card has been suffering from mental illness, for which he was admitted to a rehab center over the summer. He apparently heard voices in his head.
- It can be a difficult manhunt for the officials since Card is a former member of the US Army Reserve. He is well-versed with weapons and knows how to maneuver through drastic situations.
Gun Laws In Maine
So far, the state has failed to control gun-related violence, which has increased substantially in the past few years. The gun violence archive has deemed this case the deadliest mass shooting in 2023.
According to the data from the National Center for Health Statistics, Maine had a death rate of 12.6 per 100,000 related to guns.
As per the co-director of RAND’s gun policy in America, there is no definitive evidence that gun control laws prevent mass shootings. But at the same time, prohibiting such heavy weaponry from being owned by civilians has diminished the chances of mass shootings significantly.
What are your thoughts on this case? Do you think the department is quite slow to catch the mass shooter?
What is your take on the gun control laws? Let us know in the comments section below.
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