The small town of Lewiston, Maine, was left devastated after a mass shooting at a local bowling alley and bar resulted in the deaths of 18 innocent people and left 13 others injured. The gunman, identified as Robert Card, indiscriminately opened fire with a semiautomatic assault rifle, causing chaos and panic among the patrons. The shooting spree came to an end when Card was found dead about a mile away from his abandoned car, leaving behind a note to a loved one.
According to Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck, while the note was not an explicit suicide note, its tone and tenor indicated that the individual did not plan to be alive much longer. Two nights after the shooting, law enforcement discovered Card’s body from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside one of the metal trailers in a recycling center’s overflow parking lot.
Card’s body was found alongside two guns, which he had legally purchased recently. The recycling center’s overflow lot, where Card was found, is separated from the main facility and had not been searched earlier, as it was considered out of the way. However, thanks to a tip from the diligent owner of the facility, law enforcement conducted a third search and ultimately located the body within one of the trailers.
The investigation into the exact time of Card’s death is ongoing, and authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. The overflow lot where Card was found is located less than a mile away from where his abandoned car was discovered at a boat launch. The tip from the facility owner was one of over 820 tips and leads received by law enforcement since the shooting occurred. Police diligently followed each lead, responding with armored trucks and heavily armed officers.
As the community mourns the loss of 18 lives, the names of the victims have been released. The youngest victim was just 14 years old, while the oldest was 76. Counseling services have been made available for those who were physically injured or traumatized by the incident, and the city is offering support to anyone in the area affected by the tragedy.
Commissioner Sauschuck emphasized the importance of focusing on the victims and their families during this difficult time. He commended Card’s family for their cooperation with law enforcement and urged everyone to prioritize the healing process for those impacted by the shooting.
While the investigation continues, the town of Lewiston is left grappling with the aftermath of this horrific event. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive gun control measures to prevent similar acts of violence in the future.
