US shooting suspect faces 8 murder charges

Robert Card faces eight counts of murder after a shooting that left 18 people dead and 13 injured, and is being sought by police.

Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross said on October 26 that authorities have identified eight victims of the Lewiston shooting and are working to identify the remaining 10. Card, 40, faces eight counts of murder and the charges could increase.

"The reality right now is that the suspect is still at large," Public Safety Director Michael Sauschuck said at a news conference to announce the search for Card.

The shooting began at around 7 p.m. on October 25 at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, leaving one female patron and six men dead. Police did not release the ages of the victims.

Moments later, police received a report of a shooting at the Schengees Bar & Grille, about 3 miles from the bowling alley. Seven men were shot dead at the scene, and three victims died at the hospital from their injuries.

File photo of suspect Robert Card released by the Lewiston Police Department. Photo: Lewiston Police — File photo of suspect Robert Card released by the Lewiston Police Department. Photo: *Lewiston Police*

“In an instant, your world is turned upside down for no apparent reason,” Schengees posted on Facebook. “How do we make sense of this?”

Hundreds of police officers are searching for the suspect across Maine. Card, a sergeant in the US Army Reserve, has not seen combat since joining the army in 2002 and spent two weeks in a mental health facility this summer.

Police found the white SUV they believe Card drove to Lisbon, about 7 miles southeast of the scene. Officials urged residents of Lewiston, Lisbon and the suspect’s hometown of Bowdoin to stay home for safety while they searched for Card.

"This is a dark day for the state of Maine," Governor Janet Mills said at a press conference. "Card is considered armed and dangerous. Police advise the public not to attempt to engage him under any circumstances."

President Joe Biden spoke with state officials to offer federal assistance and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff until October 30 in memory of the victims. Biden said the nation was grieving after “another senseless and tragic shooting,” and called on Republicans to help enact stricter gun control laws.

"Too many Americans have loved ones killed or injured by gun violence. That is not normal and we cannot accept it," the US President said.

Law enforcement in Lewiston, Maine on October 26. Photo: AFP — Law enforcement in Lewiston, Maine on October 26. Photo: *AFP*

This is the most serious shooting in the US since May 2022, when a gunman stormed an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers.

The number of mass shootings in the US has increased since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, with 647 incidents in 2022. In 2023, this number could increase to 679. The deadliest mass shooting in the US occurred in 2017, when an attacker targeted a country music festival in Las Vegas and killed 58 people.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters , CNN )

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