The suspect in a mass capturing in Maine Wednesday evening that killed 18 and injured at the very least 13 is a sergeant firstclass within the Army Reserve, in keeping with the service.
A sprawling manhunt was underway Thursday morning for Robert R. Card, 40, who was recognized as a “individual of curiosity” after the capturing stretched throughout a number of places — together with a bowling alley and bar — in Lewiston, Maine. Card, who enlisted in 2002, serves as a petroleum provide specialist and has had no fight deployments, in keeping with the Army.
Col. William Ross, the pinnacle of the Maine State Police, stated that an arrest warrant for eight counts of homicide was issued for Card at a press convention Thursday. Ross stated extra fees could possibly be added as victims are recognized.
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The assault gripped the small Maine group and triggered a shelter-in-place order Wednesday evening as police sped via the streets and legislation enforcement fanned out on the manhunt.
At a press convention Thursday, Maine officers stated authorities have been nonetheless trying to find Card. Maine State Police expanded their shelter in place order on Thursday morning. Lewiston, which is 30 miles north of Portland, is beneath shelter-in-place orders from police, along with the encompassing cities of Lisbon and Bowdoin.
“We’re increasing the shelter in place order and college closings to incorporate the city of Bowdoin. Please keep inside your houses whereas greater than 100 investigators, each native and federal, work to find Robert Card,” the state police stated in a Fb put up.
Ross informed reporters Thursday that the capturing left seven lifeless at a bowling alley, and eight have been killed at a close-by bar and restaurant. Three extra victims died in native hospitals, Ross added. Ten of the victims had not but been recognized.
The shootings plunged the world into chaos stretching into the early hours of the morning. Residents have been despatched shelter-in-place warnings to their telephone. Police flooded the streets, scrambling to arrange roadblocks and rushing to completely different places the place the shooter might have fled to.
There have been at the very least 565 mass shootings within the U.S. up to now this 12 months, in keeping with knowledge from the Gun Violence Archive. The nonpartisan group defines a mass capturing as an incident the place at the very least 4 individuals have been shot or killed, not together with the shooter.
Broadly printed images launched by the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace appeared to indicate the gunman in a brown, hooded sweatshirt carrying an AR-15-style rifle in a bowling alley.
Card claimed on social media that he most lately served with third Battalion, 304th Regiment, an Army Reserve unit headquartered in Saco, Maine — simply outdoors the place the shootings came about. Its mission is to assist coaching of cadets on the U.S. Navy Academy at West Level.
His awards embrace an Army achievement medal, in keeping with the service. It is a commonplace accolade that’s awarded with out a lot benefit.
Card is a skilled firearms teacher, in keeping with police, although it was unclear Thursday morning whether or not that was a civilian place. He was by no means assigned to West Level as an teacher, in keeping with an Army official conversant in the matter. His unit final supported coaching cadets in the summertime, however Card didn’t run any instruction.
Card lately reported psychological well being points, together with threats to “shoot up the Nationwide Guard base” in Saco, Maine, police stated. He was dedicated to a psychological well being facility for 2 weeks throughout the summer season and was launched.
No main Nationwide Guard bases are within the space, however there are quite a few recruiting stations and armories for the Guard and Reserve.
He was final identified to be driving a 2012 white Subaru Outback with a black bumper, in keeping with police, with the Maine license plate 9246PD. Officers stated the car was discovered at a ship touchdown in Lisbon, Maine. The Lewiston Maine Police division launched a picture of the automobile Wednesday night.
Steve Beynon and Konstantin Toropin reported from Washington, D.C.
Shawn Snow reported from Lewiston, Maine.
— Steve Beynon might be reached at Steve.Beynon@navy.com. Comply with him on X @StevenBeynon.
— Konstantin Toropin might be reached at konstantin.toropin@navy.com. Comply with him on X @ktoropin.
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