In a devastating series of events, at least 22 people lost their lives in a spate of shootings that unfolded in the state of Maine, located in the northeastern United States. The perpetrator remains on the run, as reported by local authorities and numerous American media outlets.
Robert McCarthy, an elected official from the city of Lewiston, with a population of over 36,000, where this horrifying incident occurred, stated, “We have 22 confirmed fatalities and many, many injured.” He also pointed out that local hospitals were ill-equipped to handle the aftermath of such a shooting, with an estimated 50 to 60 people wounded, according to the city’s estimates.
🚨 Mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine at least 22 people are dead after two mass shootings. Police have identified the suspect as 40-year-old firearms instructor Robert Card, who is still at large.
He is also linked to highway shootings that occurred shortly after. #thursdaymorning pic.twitter.com/7zFOK9cgJe— Total Randomness (@totalrondom) October 26, 2023
The presumed suspect is still at large, as confirmed by the Androscoggin County Police, who released images of a man dressed in a brown top and dark blue pants, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. These tragic events unfolded in at least two different locations: a bowling alley and a restaurant, according to CNN. Reports of another shooting at a Walmart distribution center emerged during the same evening, although Walmart has since denied this information.
There’s a false video making the rounds stating that the Maine shooter, Robert Card, has been apprehended. Don’t believe it. According to official news sources, the shooter is still at large….#Maine #lewiston #LewistonMaine #ActiveShooter pic.twitter.com/aEqkYbyW8h
— Dushyant Rawat (@DushyantKrRawat) October 26, 2023
President Joe Biden was promptly informed about the unfolding events and engaged with several Maine officials, including Governor Janet Mills, offering all necessary federal support, as conveyed by the White House.
The local authorities, urging residents to stay indoors, have also shared an image of a white vehicle, requesting citizens to come forward if they recognize the vehicle. Cynthia Hunter, a Lewiston resident since 2012, expressed, “This is an overwhelming situation. We’ve never experienced anything like this.”
🚨Breaking News
Here we go! Now is the time for Biden to blame the 2nd Amendment and Republicans instead of mental disorders and the FBI for the Mass shooting in Maine.
The FBI let this be ignored when they knew full well that Robert Card was a threat.
They stand on the moral… https://t.co/sEi6qkIPyf— HardBoiledEgg🥚 (@HarderBoiledEgg) October 26, 2023
Public schools in the area will remain closed on Thursday, as announced by a district school official on X (formerly Twitter). Maine official Jared Golden expressed his horror at the night’s events in a statement, saying, “I am horrified by what occurred in Lewiston this evening.”
We are expanding the shelter in place advisory and school closings to include the town of Bowdoin. Please stay inside your homes while more than 100 investigators, both local and federal work to locate Robert Card who is a person of interest in the Lewiston shootings. pic.twitter.com/dqixmXbJAX
— Maine State Police (@MEStatePolice) October 26, 2023
According to multiple media reports, the Maine law enforcement authorities indicated in an information bulletin that Robert R. Card was a trained firearms instructor and a U.S. military reservist who had recently reported suffering from mental health issues. The bulletin further disclosed that Robert R. Card had spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital in the summer of 2023 before being released.