Watch: Authorities identify all 18 victims of Maine taking pictures
By Holly Honderich in Maine and Max Matza
BBC Information
A person suspected of killing 18 individuals in a taking pictures in Maine has been discovered lifeless after a three-day manhunt, police say.
Robert Card, 40, was discovered lifeless from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, Maine Commissioner of Public Security Michael Sauschuck stated.
The information comes hours after police lifted a stay-at-home order for the usually quiet neighborhood.
Among the many lifeless are a grandfather, a proficient younger bowler, and 4 members of a deaf cornhole workforce.
Three others injured within the taking pictures are in vital care, it emerged on Saturday.
“The suspect in Wednesday night time’s shootings has been positioned and is deceased,” the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Workplace stated on Fb.
At a information convention at Lewiston Metropolis Corridor, Maine Governor Janet Mills stated the physique was present in Lisbon, close to the place the taking pictures occurred.
“I am respiration a sigh of reduction tonight realizing that Robert Card is not going to be a menace to anybody,” she stated.
Gov Mills stated the invention of the suspect’s physique would set the neighborhood on “the lengthy and tough highway to therapeutic”.
Lewiston Police Chief David St Pierre added that he was “elated” by the information, however “our work is just not performed right here”.
Picture supply, Reuters
Governor Janet Mills introduced the suspected gunman’s physique had been discovered
“We’re gonna grieve for the households that misplaced family members, had been gonna proceed to work, we’re gonna persevere and we’re gonna turn out to be higher individuals for it,” he continued.
Commissioner Sauschuck stated the physique was discovered at 19:45 native time (23:45 GMT) on Friday close to a river in Lisbon Falls.
In a later information convention on Saturday, officers stated Robert Card’s physique was discovered within the city of Lisbon, close to a recycling centre that had already been searched twice by police.
The physique was discovered within the centre’s overflow automobile park, which had not been searched earlier than, Commissioner Sauschuk stated.
A lot of weapons had been discovered on the scene, together with an extended gun.
Officers stated the suspect had purchased his weapons days earlier than the assault.
They added he was recognized to have undergone psychological well being evaluations – although Commissioner Sauschuck clarified that he had by no means been forcibly dedicated for therapy.
As well as, he stated a paper notice was discovered on the suspect’s house.
It was addressed to a “cherished one” and contained a passcode to his cellphone and checking account numbers, Commissioner Sauschuck stated.
Earlier on Friday, police launched the names of all of the 18 victims.
Maine Senator Susan Collins stated the state now “can breathe a collective sigh of reduction due to the courageous first responders who labored night time and day to search out this killer”.
She added that President Joe Biden had known as her earlier on Friday to inform her that the suspect had died.
In a press release, Mr Biden stated it had been “a tragic two days – not only for Lewiston, Maine, however for our total nation”.
“As soon as once more, an American neighborhood and American households have been devastated by gun violence,” he stated.
He known as upon Republicans in Congress “to fulfil their obligation to maintain the American individuals secure” by pushing for tighter gun controls.
“Till that day comes, I’ll proceed to do the whole lot in my energy to finish this gun violence epidemic,” he added.
The suspect’s sister-in-law had informed NBC that the household was “doing the whole lot we will to assist regulation enforcement”.
“Our hearts are damaged,” stated Katie Card, who’s married to the gunman’s brother.
The assault occurred on Wednesday night time at a neighborhood bar and a bowling alley within the small city of Lewiston.
Police responded to studies of taking pictures at two areas, a restaurant known as Schemengees, and Simply-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley, that are about 4 miles (6.5km) aside.
Seven individuals had been killed on the bowling alley, eight at Schemengees Bar and Grille, and three had been pronounced lifeless at native hospitals.
On Friday night time, earlier than the information that Card had been discovered, members of the native deaf neighborhood, who had been deeply affected by the tragedy, gathered over Zoom for a digital vigil.
Practically 100 deaf and onerous of listening to individuals from throughout the nation joined.
“There aren’t any phrases or indicators to specific what we’re all experiencing,” stated moderator Terry Morrell, opening the occasion.
“We misplaced 4 beloved deaf individuals”, he stated, with two different deaf individuals injured.
“We’re all grieving, we’re all in shock, we’re offended, we’re numb,” he stated.
