A single man, armed with a semi-automatic assault rifle, and in a single hour, caused at least 16 deaths and 50 to 60 injuries in two public locations in Lewiston, in the state of Maine. He is on the run and citizens have been asked not to leave their homes. This is the endless war that has been experienced daily in the United States for years without legislators taking action.
The author of this massacre was identified as Robert Card, 40 years old and who according to police sources would be a military man in the reserve. He continued to flee, so the authorities demanded that all businesses lower their blinds and that neighbors stay in their homes. “He is armed and dangerous,” the police warned. Hundreds of agents were deployed in the area to try to find him.
Lewiston is a town of 38,000 residents, about 35 miles north of Portland, the state’s largest city, and its demographics have changed from a white population to one of the most diverse centers in northern New England. If the death toll is officially confirmed, it would be the deadliest shooting so far this year in the United States. In 2022 alone there were nearly 59,000 victims, including deaths and injuries from firearms: one every less than 10 minutes throughout the year.
At first it was thought that there was only one gunman. The police released images of the alleged perpetrator of the massacre, a white man. He was considered to be the only one involved in the massacre, which took place after 6:30 p.m. (east coast). The settings were a bowling alley and a restaurant.
In the photographs from the security cameras, in addition to the way he held his AR-15 rifle, which denoted his military training (he had been a shooting instructor), it was surprising to see that the suspect had his face uncovered, which made his identification easier. . But it was an element that created even more alarm because the experts interpreted that this person knew they were going to be hunted. From this they deduced that he could be on a suicide mission in which he could die by killing, causing the maximum possible damage.
Mental problems were attributed to him, he would have received attention on some occasions (he heard voices) and, in principle, it was ruled out that it was an act of domestic terrorism. He had no known affiliation.
According to some media, Card, a father of three children, was divorced twice and had a restraining order against his last wife. He was arrested on numerous occasions for domestic violence and it is alleged that he also had a history of child pornography and was on the sex offender registry.
Police also distributed the image of Card’s car so that people could contribute to its location. The car was found in the city of Lisbon, which was also under a lockdown order, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said at a press conference held almost midnight.
The commissioner did not want to specify the number of deaths, because there could be changes and he could not give “a firm figure,” and he reiterated the warning that the suspect was still on the run. He insisted on requesting citizen help, encouraging people to call if they detected something that was of interest, but he stressed that “if you see him, don’t approach him.”
This is one of the largest massacres recorded in the US in recent years. The figures are even more shocking if they are put into context. In 2022, Maine recorded 29 violent deaths, in a population of 1.4 million residents. In 2020 there were 20 homicides.
“Maine is a state where many have weapons, there is a great love for hunting, it is a tradition in this state, but we have never seen a situation like this,” stressed Democratic legislator Chellie Pingree.
Hospitals in the area urged all health workers to immediately report to their posts due to the avalanche of injured people.
Additionally, Lewiston school officials announced that schools will remain closed this Thursday. “There are many things we still don’t know at this time. Information flows fluidly but not always correctly,” said Jake Langlais, the superintendent of the school organization. “Continue sheltering in a safe place,” he pleaded.
President Joe Biden, who was in the middle of a gala dinner at the White House to entertain Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, was immediately informed about this tragedy. He even took time off to call Maine legislators and senators. Merrick Garland, secretary of the Department of Justice, was also on alert, supervising the investigations.
Melinda Small, owner of a bar near one of the bloody scenes, ordered her team to close the doors and move all of them and about 25 customers away from the access areas of the premises, after they learned of the shooting at the bowling alley. , located nearby. Police then escorted everyone safely out of the establishment. “I am in a state of shock, I feel like a blessing that my team responded so quickly and everyone is okay, but at the same time my heart is broken for the dead and injured,” Small told the AP agency.
“Total chaos,” was one of the few things that Justin Juray, owner of the bowling alley where part of the massacre took place, could declare. It was difficult for him to speak, local media reported, because he was there when the shooting occurred.
