Police identified 40-year-old Robert Card as a "person of interest" in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, where at least 22 people were killed and another 50 or 60 were injured.
A gunman opened fire at restaurant Schemengees Bar and Grille and bowling alley Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston on Wednesday night, causing multiple casualties, before fleeing into the night. The two places are about 4 miles from each other.
As of the early hours of Thursday, Card, a retired military officer, remained at large. Lewiston Maine Police Department, who are actively trying to locate him, warned residents to stay in their homes as Card is considered armed and dangerous.
"Please contact law enforcement if you are aware of his whereabouts," reads a post by Lewiston Maine PD on Facebook. The contact was indicated in a previous post showing images of the shooter as "513-3001 ext.. 3327."
"If people see him, they should not approach Card or make contact with him in any way," Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told a news conference on Wednesday night.
Police shared two photos of Card, including one which appears to have been taken from his social media profile and shows him fishing. These have then been widely shared on social media to raise awareness among residents.
According to a press release by the Maine State Police, Card is a trained firearm instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve stationed in Saco, Maine. According to law enforcement, Card had recently reported suffering from mental health issues, including hearing voices and threatening to shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco.
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Card, the statement continues, was also reportedly admitted into a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023 and later released. The police document did not provide details of the treatment he received or his condition.
While police did not disclose further information about Card, the University of Maine confirmed that he studied engineering there between 2001 and 2004, as reported by NBC News.
A man named Robert Card and born on the same date as the Lewiston mass shooting suspect was reportedly charged with speeding in 2001 and 2002 but had no other criminal records listed in public databases, according to the news channel.
According to Maine police, Card was last known to be driving a white 2013 Subaru Outback bearing Maine licence plate 9246PD and a black bumper. A photo of the vehicle was shared by the Lewiston Maine PD on Facebook.
Please contact the Lewiston Police at 513-3001 ext.. 3327 if you recognize this vehicle. It is believed that the front bumper may be painted black.
Hundreds of police officers are currently looking across the state for the gunman, who was last seen wearing brown clothing and holding a high-powered assault-style rifle.
The incident was particularly shocking for Maine, a state which experienced a total of 29 homicides in 2022, according to the Associated Press.
Update, 10/26/23 4:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include more background information.
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Giulia Carbonaro is a Newsweek Reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. and European politics, global affairs and housing. She has covered the ups and downs of the U.S. housing market extensively, as well as given in-depth insights into the unfolding war in Ukraine. Giulia joined Newsweek in 2022 from CGTN Europe and had previously worked at the European Central Bank. She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University. Languages: English, Italian, French.
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