The evening of October 25th shocked the Lewiston, Maine, as reports of an active shooting emerged.
Lewiston, situated in the southwestern part of the state and about 45 minutes north of Portland, is Maine’s most populous city. Initially, media outlets stated that a gunman had opened fire at three locations, although later revisions eliminated the third incident.
Reports varied on the number of casualties, with The Hill mentioning at least 16 deaths.
Shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time, the Maine State Police (MSP) issued an active shooter alert for the City of Lewiston, instructing residents to “shelter in place.”
This meant locking doors and windows and remaining indoors until an “all clear” signal was given.
The MSP confirmed their investigation into shootings at two locations, promising to share more information as it became available and urging residents to report any suspicious activity. The shooter targeted a local bar and grill and a recreation center.
Around five hours later, the MSP issued an updated statement, confirming that the assailant had targeted multiple locations, resulting in several fatalities.
The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Robert R. Card, residing in Bowdoin, a small town approximately half an hour east of Lewiston. Law enforcement considered him “armed and dangerous,” advising the public not to approach or contact him.
A “vehicle of interest” was found in nearby Lisbon, leading to the extension of the shelter-in-place order in Lewiston and its expansion to include Lisbon while authorities searched for Card.
On October 26 at 6:13 a.m. local time, the MSP broadened school closures and shelter-in-place directives to Bowdoin, and reports indicated that schools had been closed in the other affected areas.
The search involved over 100 local and federal law enforcement agencies. Additionally, authorities found a suicide note addressed to Card’s son in his home.
Card’s body was discovered on Friday evening, and it appeared he had taken his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“A large law enforcement response from the multiple surrounding agencies assisted the Lewiston Police Department in trying to identify who this individual was and what was happening,” Col. William G. Ross of the Maine State Police said early Thursday to address the public. “As you can imagine, this was a very fast-paced, fast-moving, very fluid scene, very dangerous scene that these guys and girls were going into.”
