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At least 22 people died in Maine. On a fateful Wednesday evening, a horrific mass shooting unfolded in Lewiston, Maine. Which results in the loss of at least 22 lives and leaving numerous others injured. This tragic event marks the deadliest attack in the U.S. in four years.
Attack Locations at least 22 people died in Maine
State police in Lewiston, the state’s second-largest city, confirmed that an active shooter targeted a restaurant and a bowling alley in the area. The shooter struck Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, and Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, which are 4.2 miles apart on opposite sides of Lewiston. There were also reports of shots fired at a Walmart distribution center.
Casualty Toll
Multiple reports, citing police sources, revealed that at least 22 people lost their lives. As many as 60 others sustained injuries. This tragic incident represents the highest death toll since the shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso in August 2019, where the same number of people were shot.
Manhunt Underway in Maine where at least 22 people died
A manhunt is currently underway. Hundreds of law enforcement officers working diligently to locate the shooter who remains at large. Police have released a photograph of a suspect. They described the suspected as a dark-haired, bearded individual carrying what appears to be a semiautomatic rifle. Authorities have appealed for information about this armed and dangerous 40 years old man named Robert Card.
Suspect Profile
An intelligence bulletin from the police revealed that Mr. Card is a trained firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve facility in Maine. He had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks earlier in the year and had reported hearing voices, along with threats to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine.
Presidential Response
The severity of the situation prompted President Joe Biden to be briefed on the matter, pulling him from a dinner with the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. President Biden has since spoken with the state’s governor, senators, and a congressman.
Community Impact
Local residents have been instructed to stay indoors and remain vigilant, given the active shooter’s continued presence. The Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston is actively responding to the mass casualty event, coordinating with other hospitals to provide care to the injured.
The Search for the Suspect
The police released an image of the suspect. The photo was taken from CCTV footage inside the bowling alley where one of the attacks occurred. The man was seen carrying a large rifle, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and is believed to be driving a white Subaru Outback 4×4. Although the Subaru Outback was found near a boat dock in Lisbon, about seven miles away, Mr. Card was not located inside the vehicle.
Community Response
Local businesses and residents have been advised to lock down and take precautionary measures as authorities continue to investigate. The community is understandably in shock and expressing concerns for their safety in the wake of this tragedy.
Deadliest Mass Shooting Since 2019
This shooting incident stands as the deadliest in the United States since at least August 2019 when a gunman opened fire at an El Paso Walmart, killing 22 individuals. This attack was classified as an anti-Hispanic hate crime. That results 23 additional injuries, with one victim succumbing to their injuries in 2020.
Increase in Mass Shootings
It is worth noting that mass shootings involving four or more people being shot have seen a concerning increase since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The Gun Violence Archive reports 647 such incidents in 2022, with projections indicating 679 for 2023, based on trends as of July.
Deadliest Mass Shooting on Record
The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history remains the 2017 Las Vegas country music festival massacre. Where a gunman fired on concertgoers from a high rise hotel perch. These results in the deaths of 58 people.
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