By Joe Marino, Patrick Reilly, Steven Vago and Nika Shakhnazarova
Robert Card, the Maine gunman who killed 18 people and injured dozens of others in the deadliest US mass shooting this year, was found dead Friday night from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The discovery of Card’s body put an end to a two-day manhunt that began when he carried out the bloody attack at a bowling alley and bar in the city of Lewiston on Wednesday night.
“Like many people, I’m breathing a sigh a relief knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat anymore,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills said at a press conference announcing the development.
“Now is the time to heal,” she continued. “With this search concluded, I know that law enforcement continues to fully investigate all the facts so we can bring what closure we can to the victims and their families.”
Card’s body was located around 7:45 p.m. near a river in Lisbon, Maine, which law-enforcement sources said is close to his former workplace, Maine Recycling, from which he was recently fired.
The killer was found in the same clothes he was wearing the night of the massacre, according to Maine Sen. Angus King.
Sources said he used a handgun to kill himself.
Card’s vehicle, a white Subaru Outback, was discovered by police abandoned in Lisbon just hours after his rampage at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grille Wednesday night.
The horrific violence began around 7 p.m. at the bowling alley, where police say Card entered with an assault rifle and began firing. Minutes later, he showed up at the bar.
In total, 18 people were killed in both shootings. Another 13 were wounded.
Maine officials identified the deceased victims on Friday as: Ronald Morin, 55; Peyton Brewer Ross, 40; Joshua Seal, 35; Brian MacFarlane, 41; Joseph Lawrence Walker, 57; Arthur Fred Strout, 42; Maxx Hathaway, 35; Stephen Vozella, 45; Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34; Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51; Jason Adam Walker 51; Tricia Asselin, 53; William Young, 44; Aaron Young, 14; Robert Violette, 76 and Lucille Violette, 73; William Frank Brackett, 44; and Keith Macneir, 64.
Wednesday’s massacre was the deadliest in Maine’s history, according to the Portland Press Herald — and the deadliest of the eight mass shootings in the US this year.
Card, who hails from Bowdoin, has been charged with eight counts of murder by the Lewiston Police Department, who described him as “armed and dangerous” on Facebook.
Authorities had found a note at Card’s home indicating that he planned to take his own life before police found him, CNN reported.
Card spent two weeks in a mental health facility over the summer after which he was discharged, according to law enforcement sources.
How the Maine shooting unfolded<br>
First reports of active shooter
Wednesday, 6:56 p.m.: Police responded to multiple reports of an active shooter at Just-In-Time Recreation, a bowling alley in Lewiston shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday, Col. William Ross of the Maine State Police said.
Second location reported
7:08 p.m.: Law enforcement received several calls reporting a gunman at Schemengees Bar & Grille about four miles away from Just-In-Time, Ross explained.
First photos of suspect emerge
8:00 p.m.: The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released a grainy image of the then-unidentified suspect clutching what appeared to be an AR-15 assault rifle at Just-in-Time on Facebook, asking the public to come forward with any information.
Shelter-in-place issued
8:09 p.m.: The Maine State Police issued a warning about an active shooter in Lewiston, and urged locals to shelter-in-place, CNN reported.
Police in the neighboring city of Auburn issued a shelter-in-place alert a few minutes later.
9:17 p.m.: Lewiston police released a photo of a white Subaru with a black bumper, and asked the public to alert them if the car was seen.
Suspect identified
9:26 p.m.: The Lewiston Police Department received a call identifying the suspect as Army Reservist Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin, the Lewiston Sun Journal reported.
9:56 p.m.: A Subaru matching the previously-released photo was found at the Pejepscot Boat Launch on the Androscoggin River in Lisbon, just outside of Lewiston, according to the Sun Journal.
Manhunt
10:52 p.m.: The Lewiston police announced on Facebook that they were seeking Robert Card as a person of interest connected with the shootings.
The public was warned that Card should be considered “armed and dangerous.”
Thursday, after 6 a.m.: After searching unsuccessfully for Card through the night and early morning, police expanded the shelter-in-place order to the Bowdoin area.
Officials confirm death toll
10:30 a.m.: Gov. Janet Mills and other officials addressed the public at a press conference.
Mills and law enforcement leaders confirmed that 18 people were killed and 13 more injured.
Late morning: Leroy Walker told NBC News that his son, Schemengees bar manager Joseph Walker, was killed in the shooting.
2 p.m.: The US Coast Guard confirmed that they were looking for Card and that he may have attempted to escape in a 1989 Bayliner Marine corp 15′ fiberglass boat which public records show he owned.
He was an Army Reservist stationed out of Saco, Maine, sources told The Post.
The University of Maine confirmed that he was an engineering student there from 2001 until 2004.
His motive is unclear, but Card suffered from mental health issues, including recently reporting “hearing voices” and threatened to shoot up the military training base in Saco, sources said.
Card had recently started wearing a hearing aid, which he blamed for disturbing voices in his head — including ones he heard at the bar that was shot up during a weekly event for other members of the local deaf community, Card’s sister told The Daily Beast.
Card’s sister also said he may have been looking for his ex when he shot up the bowling alley and bar according to ABC News sources.
The news of Card’s death is a relief for the local community, which had been on edge while placed on lockdown for two days during law enforcement’s intense manhunt.
“I was happy for the community. Closure helps,” Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee told The Post.
Lewiston City Councilman Robert McCarthy was thankful that the residents of his city could finally relax.
“It’s a big, big relief. Everyone was on pins and needles,” said McCarthy, who lives near the bowling alley where Card first opened fire.
“I hope all the victims and their families get some solace that he’s gone,” he added.
The shelter-in-place order was rescinded on Friday evening, officials announced at a press conference earlier in the day.
Sauschuck said additional information about the investigation would be provided at a press conference at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
