‘A collective sigh of relief’: Suspect in Lewiston shooting found dead

The 40-year-old Bowdoin man suspected of murdering 18 people in Lewiston was found dead Friday night after a two-day search.

“I stand here tonight to simply report that Maine State Police have located the body of Robert Card,” said Gov. Janet Mills at a 10 p.m. news conference in Lewiston City Hall.

Card is suspected of killing 18 people and wounding 13 others in a mass shooting at two locations at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston.

Mike Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, said Card’s body was found at 7:45 p.m. along the Androscoggin River of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in Lisbon Falls. He did not confirm a specific address.

“I’m very happy to say the threat is over,” said Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre.

Mills said she called President Joe Biden to share the news with him. She added that law enforcement continue to investigate the shooting in order to bring as much closure as possible for the victims’ families and larger community.

Sauschuck said there are still details that need to be sorted out by the medical examiner, such as when exactly Card died.

At a press conference earlier Friday evening, Sauschuck identified the names and ages of the 18 victims.

‘Mourning them as irreplaceable’: All 18 victims in Lewiston shooting identified

The shelter in place order was lifted earlier Friday evening for local communities. The hunting ban announced earlier for Lisbon, Bowdoin, Lewiston and Monmouth was also lifted.

“A wave of relief just ran over me,” Jake Langlais, superintendent of Lewiston Public Schools, wrote on X. “A big step toward healing and everyone who has been searching in such dangerous conditions can go home safe to their families. More work to do but this news means so much!”

“Thank god this chapter of this tragedy is over,” said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque. “We can now move forward and focus on the support the family of the victims and our community needs.”

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said, “We grieve. We remember. Hopefully, we can heal.”

Reacting to the news, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree wrote on X, “We will hold the Mainers lost forever in our hearts as we begin to try to heal and, importantly, work to put an end to the uniquely American gun violence epidemic.”

U.S Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement that President Biden called her to tell her the news about Card. She added they both expressed “profound appreciation for the courage and determination” of the first responders.

“Tonight, Mainers can breathe a collective sigh of relief,” the statement from Collins said.

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