Maine embarks on healing after mass killing suspect found dead
Law enforcement continue a manhunt in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Durham, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023..Authorities are scouring hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sending dive teams to the bottom of a river and scrutinizing a possible suicide note in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of fatally shooting several people in Maine.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
Gov. Janet Mills speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
This poster provided by the Maine Department of Public Safety shows victims of the Maine Shooting. According to Maine State Police, seven people died Wednesday night, Oct. 25, 2023 at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley. Six were male and one was female. Eight more people, all male, died at Schemengees Bar and Grille. Three others died after being taken to hospitals. (Maine Department of Public Safety via AP) Perkins, Daniel M
Law enforcement officers maintain their presence at Schemengees Bar and Grille in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. The suspect, Robert Card, a firearms instructor who grew up in the area, was found dead in nearby Lisbon Falls, Gov. Janet Mills said at a Friday night news conference. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
A police officer guards the road to a recycling facility where the body of Robert Card, the suspect in this week's mass shootings, was found, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. Card was wanted for the shooting deaths of 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
A police officer gives an order to the public during a manhunt at a farm for the suspect in this week's deadly mass shootings, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. Police are still searching for the man who killed at least 18 in separate shootings at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
Law enforcement continue a manhunt in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Durham, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Authorities are scouring hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sending dive teams to the bottom of a river and scrutinizing a possible suicide note in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of fatally shooting several people in Maine.(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
Law enforcement search a farm for the suspect in this week's deadly mass shootings, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. Police are still searching for the man who killed at least 18 in separate shootings at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
A police officer keeps watch during a manhunt at a farm for the suspect in this week's deadly mass shootings, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. Police are still searching for the man who killed at least 18 in separate shootings at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
Law enforcemnt officers gather outside Schemengees Bar and Grille in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Shocked and fearful Maine residents are keeping to their homes for a second night as hundreds of police and FBI agents search intently for Robert Card, a U.S. Army reservist authorities say fatally shot several people at a bowling alley and a bar. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
CORRECTS DATE TO OCT. 27, NOT OCT. 26 - The streets remain quiet in this view looking towards Lewiston, Maine, from the neighboring city of Auburn, as a lockdown remains in effect following this week's deadly mass shootings, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Police are still searching for the suspect who killed several people in separate shootings at a bowling alley and restaurant on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
This photo released by the Lewiston Maine Police Department shows Robert Card, who police have identified as a person of interest in connection to mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP)
RETRANMISSION TO CORRECT LOCATION - Tammy Asselin, who was at Just-in-Time Recreation bowling alley with her daughter, Toni, during the recent mass shooting, wipes her face during an interview in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
A police officer searches along railroad tracks near the Androscoggin River for the suspect in this week's deadly mass shootings, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. The manhunt continues for the man who killed at least 18 in separate shootings at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Robert F. Bukaty
Law enforcement officers travel on the Androscoggin River as the search continues in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Lisbon Falls, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Authorities are scouring hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sending dive teams to the bottom of a river and scrutinizing a possible suicide note in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of a mass shooting in Maine. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
Law enforcement officers temporarily detain people as a manhunt continues in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Durham, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Authorities are scouring hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sending dive teams to the bottom of a river and scrutinizing a possible suicide note in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of fatally shooting several people in Maine. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
RETRANMISSION TO CORRECT LOCATION - Fern Asselin, whose daughter Tammy Asselin, and granddaughter, Toni, right, were at the Just-in-Time Recreation bowling alley during the recent mass shooting, speaks during an interview in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
Maine Commissioner of Public Safety Mike Sauschuck speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Matt Rourke
These photos provided by the Maine Department of Public Safety shows victims of the Maine Shooting, Top from left, Ronald G. Morin, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Joshua A. Seal, Bryan M. MacFarlane, Joseph Lawrence Walker, Arthur Fred Strout. Second row from left, Maxx A. Hathaway, Stephen M. Vozzella, Thomas Ryan Conrad, Michael R. Deslauiers II, Jason Adam, Tricia C. Asselin. Third Row from left, William A. Young, Aaron Young, Robert E. Violette and Lucille M. Violette, William Frank,...
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By JAKE BLEIBERG, PATRICK WHITTLE, HOLLY RAMER and DAVID SHARP |
Published: 10-28-2023 1:28 PM |
LEWISTON, Maine — Police teams had already searched a recycling center in Maine twice before eventually finding the body of the man suspected of killing 18 people, authorities said Saturday.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said the teams scoured the Maine Recycling Corp. property, including a tactical team, on Thursday night. He said another state police team returned the site Friday and found Robert Card’s body in a location that hadn’t been searched.
Card died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Sauschuck said.
At a press conference Saturday, Sauschuck also said Card’s family called investigators to provide his name to law enforcement soon after police released surveillance pictures of the shooter.
“This family has been incredibly cooperative with us,” Sauschuck said. “Truth be told the first three people that called us ... were family members.”
The 40-year-old Card of Bowdoin — a firearms instructor who grew up in the area — was suspected of also injuring 13 people during a shooting rampage at a bowling alley and bar on Wednesday night in Lewiston.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills at a Friday night news conference called for the healing process to begin.
“Like many people I’m breathing a sigh of relief tonight knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone,” Mills said.
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Street life returned to Lewiston Saturday morning after a days-long lockdown in the city of 37,000. Joggers took advantage of the warm weather. People walked dogs through downtown, picked up coffees and visited other shops that had been closed since the shooting.
Whitney Pelletier hung a hand-drawn “Lewiston Strong” sign in the glass door of her downtown cafe, Forage, on Saturday morning.
Like other local businesses, Forage has been closed for days as police searched for Card.
“Last night when they found his body, I think the fear that I had been holding onto just living in downtown Lewiston was replaced with sadness,” she said.
President Joe Biden in a statement called on Congress to take action on gun violence.
The deadliest shootings in Maine history stunned a state of 1.3 million people that has relatively little violent crime and had only 29 killings in all of 2022. In Lewiston, the 37,000 residents and those in surrounding communities were told to stay in their homes as hundreds of police officers, sheriff’s deputies, FBI agents and other law enforcement officials swarmed the area.
Card was a U.S. Army reservist. Leo Madden, who said he ran Maine Recycling Corp. for decades, told the AP that Card worked there for a couple of years and nothing about him stood out. Madden said he didn’t remember when Card was employed or whether he was fired or quit. The facility is located in Lisbon, not far from Lewiston.
Last summer, Card underwent a mental health evaluation after he began acting erratically during training, a U.S. official told the AP. A bulletin sent to police across the country shortly after the attack said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks after “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military base.
A U.S. official said Card was training with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in West Point, New York, when commanders became concerned about him. State police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation, according to the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the information and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
On Wednesday, Card attacked the bowling alley first, then went to the bar. Police were quickly sent to both locations but Card was able to escape. For the next two days authorities scoured the woods and hundreds of acres of Card’s family-owned property, and sent dive teams with sonar to the bottom of the Androscoggin River.
Law enforcement officials had said they hadn’t seen Card since his vehicle was left at a boat ramp Wednesday shortly after the shootings.
Hours before Card’s body was found, the names and pictures of the 15 men, two women and 14-year-old boy who died in the shootings were released at a news conference.
The Maine Department of Public Safety said it would open a Family Assistance Center at the Lewiston Armory starting Saturday to offer help and support to victims.
The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf said the shootings killed at least four members of their community.
Tammy Asselin was in the bowling alley with her 10-year-old daughter, Toni, and was injured when she fell in the scramble as the shooting began. She had said she hoped the shooter would be found alive because she and her daughter had many questions that they hoped he could answer.
On Saturday morning, she told the AP in a text message that her daughter was relieved by the news, and she was able to sleep peacefully.
“I am relieved as well, but also saddened at a lost opportunity to learn as much as we can,” she said. “Now we are on the journey to heal, and I am looking forward to working on this. It will be difficult but I’m optimistic we will be stronger in the long run.”
Authorities have said publicly that the shooter used at least one rifle. They have not released any other details, including how the suspect obtained the firearm.
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.
The Cards have lived in Bowdoin for generations, neighbors said, and various members of the family own hundreds of acres in the area. The family owned the local sawmill and years ago donated the land for a church.
Family members of Card told federal investigators that he had recently discussed hearing voices and became more focused on the bowling alley and bar, according to the law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. When he was hospitalized in July in New York, Card had told military officials he had been hearing voices and said he wanted to harm other soldiers, the officials said.
Authorities had banned hunting in several communities, in a state where it is immensely popular. However, following confirmation of Card’s death, a public safety alert was issued that announced: “The search is over for Mr. Card. The caution is over. Hunting may resume.”
The Lewiston shootings were the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
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