LEWISTON, Maine – The intense manhunt that kept Maine residents in suspense for two days following the tragic mass shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, came to a close on Friday. Robert Card, the prime suspect, was found deceased.
Our sources indicate that Card, linked to the grievous incident in which 18 lives were tragically lost and 13 injured, appears to have succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An official briefing regarding the development is expected later at 10 p.m.
In a public update, the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office stated that the suspect “has been located and is deceased.”
Robert Card, a 40-year-old resident of Bowdoin, Maine, previously served as a U.S. Army reservist. His behavior during a training session in mid-July had prompted concerns, resulting in a mental health assessment, a U.S. official shared with Meeko Media.
Details emerging about Card’s past revealed that after expressing concerns about “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military base, he had been admitted to a mental health facility earlier this summer. It was also disclosed that during his training with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in West Point, New York, higher-ups had observed alarming behavior.
The extensive search operation for Card included probing the riverbeds using sonar and investigating a probable suicide note. Authorities finally lifted the shelter in place order, nearly 48 hours post the incident.
State Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck, during a media briefing, released the names and photographs of the victims, whose ages spanned from 14 to 76. A moment of silence was observed in their memory.
Details from Thursday’s findings indicate a suicide note addressed to Card’s son was uncovered. This note, however, did not shed light on the specific motivations behind the shocking act. Electronic devices and other items were also seized from properties linked to Card for further investigation.
Neighbors of the Cards, a family with deep roots in Bowdoin, shared insights about the family legacy, including ownership of a local sawmill and the donation of land for a local church.
According to sources who wished to remain anonymous, family members of Card disclosed to federal investigators about his recent behavior, specifically mentioning that he had spoken about hearing voices and displayed an unusual focus on the bowling alley and bar. During his hospitalization in New York, Card reportedly told military officials about his auditory hallucinations and confessed his urge to harm fellow soldiers.
The heartbreaking impact of the shooting is deeply felt across the community. Among those lost were Bob Violette, 76, who was coaching a youth bowling league, and Joe Walker, a manager at the bar and grill who reportedly confronted the shooter.
The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf stated that at least four of the deceased belonged to their community, all passionate advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Governor Janet Mills encapsulated the sentiment of many in her statement, “It is often said that our state is ‘one big, small town’ because Maine is such a close-knit community… Tonight, I ask Maine people to join me in reading their stories, learning who they were, celebrating them as beloved people, and mourning them as irreplaceable.”
In light of the tragedy, several institutions, including Bates College in Lewiston, have suspended their regular activities.
This event marks the 36th mass killing in the U.S. this year, as per data from The Associated Press and USA Today, in collaboration with Northeastern University.
