The suspected gunman in Wednesday’s shooting rampage that left 18 people dead in Lewiston has been found dead by police after his apparent suicide
Robert Card, the main suspect in the shootings that left 18 dead Wednesday in Lewiston (Maine, United States) has been found dead with a gunshot wound to the head apparently self-inflicted, according to police reports.
The body has been located on Friday night in a forest located about 13 kilometers from the place where the massacre took place, near a recycling center where the suspect, who was wearing the same clothes in which he was seen on Wednesday, used to work. “I am here tonight to report that the Maine State Police have located the body of Robert Card in Lisbon. He is dead,” Maine Governor Janet Mills confirmed Friday at a press conference.
Mills, who expressed her relief to know that “Card is no longer a threat to anyone,” said “law enforcement is continuing to thoroughly investigate the facts” to “bring closure” to this “tragedy” and offer an explanation to the victims and their families.
For his part, Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre noted that “our officers are being notified now as we speak. Some obviously know earlier than others. There are many who are still at home. They’re home with their families. This is something that all of our law enforcement personnel, our own and any surrounding community has been paying close attention to in anticipation of positive or good news. And this is by far the best news we’ve had in quite some time. Thank you.”
For his part, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said that “the search has been extensive, thorough, uninterrupted,” and that he hoped to soon have “more information on exactly how it happened” the event. The commissioner announced that there would be a further press conference at 10 a.m. (local time) on Saturday to provide more information.
This Friday, Maine authorities lifted the shelter order implemented in some parts of the U.S. state following Wednesday’s shootings in the town of Lewiston, advising residents of the aforementioned areas to remain “vigilant” while the search for the perpetrator of the shooting continued.
The mass shooting in Maine brings to 565 the number of shootings in the U.S. this year, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive (GVA), which compiles statistics on such incidents.