Maine shooting: New details emerge in Robert Card's death

Police had been searching for suspect Robert Card since Wednesday night.

ByEmily Shapiro, Aaron Katersky, Josh Margolin, and Sasha Pezenik
Last Updated: October 28, 2023, 11:40 AM EDT

The manhunt has ended for suspect Robert Card, who allegedly killed 18 people and injured 13 others in a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday evening. Gov. Janet Mills confirmed the suspect was found dead Friday night of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Wednesday's mass shooting unfolded in two locations: a bowling alley where a children's league was taking place and a local bar, officials said.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 27, 2023, 5:28 pm

What we know about the victims

The names of the 18 people killed in Wednesday night's mass shooting in Maine were released by authorities on Friday.

The victims at the bowling alley include youth bowling coach Bob Violette and his wife Lucille Violette, as well as bowling alley manager Tommy Conrad.

Flags fly at half-staff on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Oct 26, 2023 to honor victims of the Oct. 25 mass-shooting in Lewiston Maine.
Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA via Shutterstock

Aaron Young, 14, and his father William "Bill" Young, 43, were also among the victims at the bowling alley, their family said.

Victims Steven Vozzella and Bill Brackett were among those killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant. They were a part of a gathering of deaf people playing cornhole.

-ABC News' Whitney Lloyd

Oct 26, 2023, 9:52 PM EDT

Card had affiliations at both targeted locations: Sources

A law enforcement source with direct knowledge tells ABC News that Robert Card had affiliations with the two locations he allegedly targeted.

An ex-girlfriend is connected to one of the locations. According to the source, "We don’t think this was completely random."

A U.S. Department of Defense official confirmed to ABC News that Robert Card, an Army reservist, was "behaving erratically" while deployed over the summer in upstate New York.
0:56
Maine shooting suspect's mental health raised concerns at summer deploymentA U.S. Department of Defense official confirmed to ABC News that Robert Card, an Army reservist, was "behaving erratically" while deployed over the summer in upstate New York.
ABCNews.com

The suspect also appears to have been fairly thoughtful about eluding police. He left behind a cellphone that authorities have recovered apparently suspecting it could be tracked.

-ABC News' Pierre Thomas

Oct 26, 2023, 9:36 PM EDT

Search at home tied to suspect winds down

A large number of police vehicles that had surrounded a property tied to suspect Robert Card on Thursday have departed.

The search at this location seems to have gone quiet with most of the authorities having left the scene.

Hundreds of law enforcement are scouring the region looking for Army reservist Robert Card, who is a suspect in the shooting that killed at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night.
3:41
Manhunt continues for suspect in deadly Maine massacreHundreds of law enforcement are scouring the region looking for Army reservist Robert Card, who is a suspect in the shooting that killed at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night.
ABCNews.com

A source familiar with the search in Bowdoin tells ABC News there is no expectation the suspect will be apprehended at that location tonight.

The source said this search and the dramatic accompaniments were part of standard procedure for safely carrying out a search warrant.

Police will be doing this repeatedly as they work to retrieve evidence. They say they’re being thorough by tracking down every lead.

Oct 26, 2023, 8:22 PM EDT

Suspect consumed 'conspiratorial' content online, investigation finds

Information provided to law enforcement shows that Robert Card appears to have "interacted with conspiratorial content" online.

Topics he engaged with included, but were not limited to, concerns about a financial crisis/stock market, LGBTQ+ issues, gun rights and commentary about Democratic public officials, including President Joe Biden.

It remains unknown whether any of his social media usage played any role in the suspect's decision to go on his rampage Wednesday night.

Law enforcement has not determined the motive, but they are looking into several aspects of the suspect's life, including his writings and history of mental health problems.

-ABC News' Josh Margolin

Oct 26, 2023, 7:31 PM EDT

Law enforcement surround Bowdoin home, order suspect 'come out now'

A convoy of armored police vehicles lined the road near a home in Bowdoin, around 7 p.m. ET, Thursday evening.

"Robert Card, you're under arrest. Come out now," officers yelled through a megaphone.

"Drop everything and come outside...If anyone is in the residence, walk outside and walk to the front of the driveway," they said.

Hundreds of law enforcement are scouring the region looking for Army reservist Robert Card, who is a suspect in the shooting that killed at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night.
3:41
Manhunt continues for suspect in deadly Maine massacreHundreds of law enforcement are scouring the region looking for Army reservist Robert Card, who is a suspect in the shooting that killed at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night.
ABCNews.com

Shannon Moss, a spokeswoman for the Maine State Police, said in a statement officers are conducting a search warrant.

"It is unknown whether Robert Card is in any of the homes law enforcement will search. Law enforcement officials are simply doing their due diligence by tracking down every lead in an effort to locate and apprehend Card," she said.

-ABC News' Steph Wash, Will McDuffie and Whit Johnson

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