Who is Robert Card? Manhunt for Maine ‘gunman’ who left 22 dead in rampage

Maine police are hunting for Robert Card, a 40-year-old man and ‘person of interest’ in a Lewiston shooting which saw 22 killed.

Police for Lewiston, the state’s second-largest city after Portland, said early Thursday that the shooter remains at large.

Sheriff Eric Samson of Androscoggin County, which covers Lewiston, said the gunman went to a bowling alley and gunned down seven people before moving into a nearby bar at about 7pm Wednesday.

The death toll, Samson added, is likely to ‘grow, unfortunately, with it ranging from 16 to 22.

If the toll is confirmed, it would be the deadliest mass shooting since August 2019, where a gunman killed 23 at an El Paso Walmart, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The number of wounded is ‘unsure’ but is said to be up to 50 people.

Lewiston police said on Facebook at 10.50pm local time today that Card is a ‘person of interest’ in the case.

‘Card should be considered armed and dangerous,’ the law enforcement agency said.

City police had two hours before posted surveillance footage on Facebook of a man wearing a brown hoodie, blue trousers and beige shoes carrying a military-style semiautomatic rifle in the firing position.

‘Please contact the Lewiston Police at 513-3001 ext.. 3327 if you recognise this individual,’ the force said.

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told reporters at a news conference: ‘We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case to locate Mr Card, who is a person of interest.’

Police say took place at Sparetime Recreation and at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant.

A ‘vehicle of interest’ has also been identified by police officials, a white SUV in Lisbon, a town about eight miles from Lewiston.

According to NBC, state court records show that a man said to be born on the same date as the person of interest was charged with speeding tickets in 2021 and 2002 – this is the end of his rap sheet, the broadcaster said.

Maine Information and Analysis Center, a database for police, issued a bulletin on Card which states he was trained as a firearms instructor and is believed to have been in the Army Reserve, according to several media outlets.

He is listed as being of Bowdoin, a town of some 3,100 people 31 miles north of Portland, according to the notice, which the Associated Press says was circulated to law enforcement officials.

‘Card was also reported to have been committed to mental health facility for two weeks during summer 2023 and subsequently released,’ the bulletin adds.

‘Card was last known to be operating a Maine registration 9246PD 2013 Wjoite Subaru Outback with a black number.’

The person of interest, the centre added, should be ‘considered armed and dangerous and ‘caution should be used if contact is made with Card or the vehicle’.

The Maine Emergency Management Agency added on X, formerly known as Twitter, that MEMA State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is ‘moving to enhanced monitoring’ regarding the Lewiston shooting.

A patchwork of lockdowns across the city as well as in neighbouring towns have been issued into the early hours today, including schools and colleges.

Maine State Police are assisting with the investigation, the department also posted.

‘Please stay inside your home with the doors locked,’ state police said, with law enforcement asking for Lisbon locals as well as those in Auburn to remain indoors.

Gun laws in Maine are rather relaxed, according to Everytown For Gun Safety, a non-profit advocating for tighter gun-control laws.

On average, 163 people die by guns in the state.

Everytown For Gun Safety says: ‘Though Maine has taken some steps to keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them, state leaders must do more to prevent gun violence.

‘Maine law doesn’t require background checks on all gun sales, making it easy for prohibited purchasers to access guns, no questions asked.’

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