LEWISTON, Maine – Gunman in Lewiston Bowling Alley and Bar Shootings Found Dead from Self-Inflicted Gunshot.
The gunman responsible for the tragic shootings in a Lewiston bowling alley and bar that claimed 18 lives, Robert Card, an Army reservist, was discovered deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot in nearby Lisbon Falls, according to Gov. Janet Mills. The extensive two-day search had left the state in distress.
Governor Mills reported the discovery of Robert Card’s lifeless body, bringing a sense of relief to the community, as Card was no longer a threat to public safety.
April Stevens, a resident of Lewiston, expressed her relief at the news but emphasized the profound grief that lingers after the devastating events. She described Card as a “monster and coward” responsible for causing immense pain and suffering.
Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck revealed that Card’s body was found near the Androscoggin River, approximately 8 miles southeast of the location of the second shooting. The exact location was not disclosed, but an unnamed official informed The Associated Press that it was at a recycling center where Card had previously worked.
Governor Mills reached out to President Joe Biden to inform him of Card’s demise and to underscore the importance of addressing gun violence in the United States.
The mass shooting was a tragic event that deeply affected the state of Maine, a place known for its low crime rate, with only 29 homicides recorded in the entirety of 2022. Lewiston and nearby communities were on edge as law enforcement personnel conducted an intensive search, involving hundreds of officers, deputies, and FBI agents.
Robert Card, aged 40 and residing in Bowdoin, had served as a U.S. Army reservist. Leo Madden, a former employer at Maine Recycling Corp., noted that Card worked there for a brief period without any notable issues. However, Madden could not recall the exact details of Card’s employment, including whether he had been terminated or resigned.
Last summer, Card underwent a mental health evaluation after displaying erratic behavior during military training. A U.S. official disclosed that Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks due to reports of him “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” a military base.
Card had been training with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in West Point, New York, when concerns about his behavior arose. State police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation, according to the official.
On the tragic day of the shootings, Card initially targeted a bowling alley before proceeding to a bar, evading the police’s immediate response. A two-day-long manhunt followed, with law enforcement scouring the woods and Card’s family-owned property, including dive teams using sonar to search the Androscoggin River.
The authorities had not seen Card since he abandoned his vehicle at a boat ramp immediately after the shootings occurred.
The identities of the 18 victims were made public just hours before Card’s body was found. They included 15 men, two women, and a 14-year-old boy, each with their own stories and loved ones. Among them were Bob Violette, a 76-year-old retiree dedicated to coaching a youth bowling league; Joe Walker, an Auburn City Councilor’s son and a bar and grill manager who bravely confronted the shooter; and Peyton Brewer-Ross, a devoted pipefitter at Bath Iron Works who left behind a grieving partner, young daughter, and friends.
