Breaking News: mass shooting! Hunt for gunman shakes Maine

The manhunt is ongoing in Maine to locate Robert Card, a 40-year-old former military and army reservist who, on the evening of October 25 (U.S. time), armed with an AR-15 rifle, entered both a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that resulted in 18 fatalities and 13 injuries. Among the mass shooting was a 14-year-old and his father who were present at the bowling alley. This tragic incident is the latest in a series of mass shootings reigniting the debate on gun control in the United States and prompting President Joe Biden to once again call upon Congress to enact a ban on assault weapons and implement stricter firearm regulations. “It’s the minimum we can do for Americans forced to endure physical and mental scars from this senseless new attack”.

In Maine, there are no requirements for background checks or permits when purchasing firearms. Additionally, the state does not currently have a red flag law in place. A red flag law would empower a judge to restrict access to firearms for individuals who are considered a danger to themselves or others.

The standoff at Robert card’s residence

During the night, the police and FBI maintained a three-hour vigil outside Robert Card’s home. At one point, law enforcement shouted, “Come out with your hands up” and “you are under arrest”, although it remains uncertain if these directives were aimed at the sought-after individual. Eventually, the agents departed the area.

Meanwhile, Lewiston has turned into a desolate town, with closed restaurants and shuttered businesses. Residents follow law enforcement advice to remain barricaded in their homes.

The tragedy: the mass shooting

The alarm was raised around seven in the evening when the police received the initial report of gunshots at the Just-in-Time bowling alley, which, like every Wednesday, was hosting a teen night. Shortly thereafter, numerous other calls reported a shooting at the Schemengees bar-restaurant. Law enforcement officers responded promptly, initiating a manhunt that has yet to yield results.

In an attempt to aid the search, the police released a photo of Card and an image of his white Subaru Outback vehicle. IInitially, some witnesses mistook the gunfire for a Halloween prank, an impression that rapidly vanished beneath the successive rounds of shots at the bowling alley. The assailant claimed seven victims at the bowling alley. The shooting then continued at the restaurant, where he fatally shot eight individuals. Others succumbed to their injuries later in the hospital.

Who Is Robert Card

Robert Card, a U.S. Army reservist since 2002, recently grappled with psychiatric issues and was hospitalized last summer following unusual behavior displayed during exercises at West Point. Despite these mental health concerns, he retained access to an AR-15 assault rifle and potentially other firearms, as suspected by law enforcement. A former army colleague described him as highly adept in outdoor environments and a proficient marksman. Concerns have arisen that he may possess a police scanner, which could enable him to anticipate law enforcement movements. Authorities regard him as a dangerous individual. Card faces eight charges, corresponding to the number of identified deceased victims.