Lewiston, Maine (AP) – was paralyzed after Army reservist Robert Card killed 18 people in a violent rampage. The two-day statewide manhunt ended when Card, 40, was discovered dead from self-inflicted gun wounds in nearby Lisbon Falls.
Governor Janet Mills expressed relief at the news during a press conference. Lewiston residents, devastated and fearing further violence, shared mixed emotions. April Stevens, knowing one victim personally, felt relief but lamented the senseless loss. In response, President Joe Biden, informed by Mills, emphasized the need for Congress to address gun violence, stressing that Americans deserve safety.
Card, employed at a local recycling center, underwent a mental health check last summer, revealing significant concerns. His erratic behavior, including threatening to attack a military base, resulted in a two-week commitment to a mental health facility. Despite this, his actions left an unhealed scar in a usually peaceful Maine community.
After the attack, a massive law enforcement contingent failed to capture Card immediately. Divers and search teams meticulously examined the Androscoggin River and expansive family-owned lands. They recovered a gun in Card’s abandoned car, seeking forensic confirmation of its use in the shootings.
According to AP, “Authorities found a suicide note at a home associated with Card on Thursday that was addressed to his son, the law enforcement officials said. They said it didn’t provide any specific motive for the shooting. Authorities also recovered Card’s cellphone in the home, making a search more complicated because authorities routinely use phones to track suspects, the officials said.”
Among the victims was Bob Violette, 76, a beloved retiree and youth coach. Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker’s son, Joe, heroically confronted the shooter and was killed. Peyton Brewer-Ross’s death profoundly affected his family and colleagues. The deaf community also reported four losses.
Authorities continue to piece together motives from his suicide note and family accounts. He had confessed to hearing voices and showing aggressive tendencies towards other soldiers. With Card’s death confirmed, the previously suspended local hunting activities have resumed, signaling a cautious return to normalcy.
