By Jake Bleiberg, Patrick Whittle, Holly Ramer and David Sharp, The Related Press
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Police groups had already searched a recycling heart in Maine twice earlier than ultimately discovering the physique of the person suspected of killing 18 individuals in Lewiston, authorities mentioned Oct. 28.
Division of Public Security Commissioner Michael Sauschuck mentioned the groups scoured the Maine Recycling Corp. property that options as many as 60 trailers the evening of Oct. 26. He mentioned one other state police staff returned to the positioning the subsequent day and located Robert Card’s physique in a trailer that hadn’t been searched.
The 40-year-old Card of Bowdoin — a firearms teacher who grew up within the space — was suspected of additionally injuring 13 individuals throughout a capturing rampage at a bowling alley and bar on Oct. 25 in Lewiston. Card died of an obvious self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities mentioned.
Jim Ferguson, the ATF particular agent in cost in Boston, instructed The Related Press that the weapons used within the capturing had been bought legally. Many firearms had been recovered from Card though he declined to say their make, mannequin or what number of precisely.
“There have been much more than three,” Ferguson mentioned.
Within the Oct. 28 press convention, Sauschuck mentioned Card had a historical past of psychological sickness, however there was no proof that he had ever been involuntarily dedicated. “Simply because there seems to be a psychological well being nexus to this state of affairs, the overwhelming majority of individuals with psychological well being analysis won’t ever harm anyone,” he mentioned.
As for why Card selected his targets, Sauschuck mentioned it was possible as a result of paranoia, that he thought individuals had been speaking about him.
He additionally mentioned the notice present in Card’s dwelling was meant for a beloved one with the go code to his telephone and checking account numbers. Sauschuck mentioned he wouldn’t describe it as an express suicide notice however that the tone indicated that was the intent.
Avenue life returned to Lewiston early Oct. 28 after a days-long lockdown within the metropolis of 37,000. Joggers took benefit of the nice and cozy climate. Individuals walked canines by way of downtown and picked up coffees and visited different outlets that had been closed for the reason that capturing.
“Proper now, we would like Maine to be remembered because the group that got here collectively after this tragic occasion,” mentioned Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee, recalling how he drove into city Oct. 28 and noticed “individuals strolling the streets, individuals sitting on porches, waving. Giving the thumbs up.”
Whitney Pelletier hung a hand-drawn “Lewiston Robust” signal within the glass door of her downtown cafe, Forage, on Saturday morning. Like different native companies, Forage has been closed for days as police looked for Card.
“Final evening once they discovered his physique, I believe the concern that I had been holding onto simply residing in downtown Lewiston was changed with unhappiness,” she mentioned.
The deadliest shootings in Maine historical past surprised a state of 1.3 million folks that has comparatively little violent crime and had solely 29 killings in all of 2022. In Lewiston, the 37,000 residents and people in surrounding communities had been instructed to remain of their houses as lots of of cops, sheriff’s deputies, FBI brokers and different legislation enforcement officers swarmed the world.
The stay-at-home order was lifted Oct. 27 and hours later authorities introduced they’d discovered Card’s physique.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills introduced Card had been discovered lifeless at an Oct. 27 evening information convention. Then, she referred to as for the therapeutic course of to start.
“Like many individuals I’m respiration a sigh of reduction tonight realizing that Robert Card is not a menace to anybody,” Mills mentioned.
Card was a U.S. Military reservist. Leo Madden, who mentioned he ran Maine Recycling Corp. for many years, instructed the AP that Card labored there for a few years and nothing about him stood out. Madden mentioned he didn’t keep in mind when Card was employed or whether or not he was fired or give up. The ability is positioned in Lisbon, not removed from Lewiston.
Final summer season, Card underwent a psychological well being analysis after he started performing erratically throughout coaching, a U.S. official instructed the AP. A bulletin despatched to police throughout the nation shortly after the assault mentioned Card had been dedicated to a psychological well being facility for 2 weeks after “listening to voices and threats to shoot up” a navy base.
The navy mentioned Card was coaching with the Military Reserve’s third Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in West Level, N.Y., when commanders turned involved about him. State police took Card to the Keller Military Neighborhood Hospital at West Level for analysis.
On Oct. 25, Card attacked the bowling alley first, then went to the bar. Police had been rapidly despatched to each areas however Card was capable of escape. For the subsequent two days authorities scoured the woods and lots of of acres of Card’s family-owned property, and despatched dive groups with sonar to the underside of the Androscoggin River.
Regulation enforcement officers had mentioned they hadn’t seen Card since his car was left at a ship ramp shortly after the shootings.
Hours earlier than Card’s physique was discovered, the names and footage of the 15 males, two ladies and 14-year-old boy who died within the shootings had been launched at a information convention.
The Maine Division of Public Security mentioned it could open a Household Help Middle in Lewiston beginning the morning of Oct. 28 to supply assist and assist to victims on the Lewiston Armory.
The Maine Academic Middle for the Deaf mentioned the shootings killed no less than 4 members of their group.
Tammy Asselin was within the bowling alley along with her 10-year-old daughter, Toni, and was injured when she fell within the scramble because the capturing started. She had mentioned she hoped the shooter could be discovered alive as a result of she and her daughter had many questions that they hoped he might reply.
On Oct. 28, she instructed the AP in a textual content message that her daughter was relieved by the information, and he or she was capable of sleep peacefully.
“I’m relieved as properly, but additionally saddened at a misplaced alternative to be taught as a lot as we are able to,” she mentioned. “Now we’re on the journey to heal, and I’m wanting ahead to engaged on this. It is going to be troublesome however I’m optimistic we might be stronger in the long term.”
The Playing cards have lived in Bowdoin for generations, neighbors mentioned, and numerous family members personal lots of of acres within the space. The household owned the native sawmill and years in the past donated the land for an area church.
Relations of Card instructed federal investigators that he had not too long ago mentioned listening to voices and have become extra targeted on the bowling alley and bar, in accordance with the legislation enforcement officers who spoke on situation of anonymity. When he was hospitalized in July in New York, Card had instructed navy officers he had been listening to voices and mentioned he wished to hurt different troopers, the officers mentioned.
Sauschuck additionally praised Card’s household, who referred to as investigators to offer his identify to legislation enforcement quickly after police launched surveillance footage of the shooter.
“This household has been extremely cooperative with us,” Sauschuck mentioned. “Reality be instructed the primary three folks that referred to as us … had been relations.”
The Lewiston shootings had been the thirty sixth mass killing in the USA this yr, in accordance with a database maintained by The Related Press and USA As we speak in partnership with Northeastern College.
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Ramer reported from Harmony, New Hampshire and Whittle from Portland, Maine. Related Press journalists who additionally contributed: Robert Bukaty and Robert Bumsted in Lewiston; Michael Balsamo in New York; and Michael Casey in Boston.
