LEWISTON, Maine — The search for suspect Robert Card, 40, of Bowdoin ended Friday, when his body was found by law enforcement crews at a recycling facility in Lisbon.
Over 350 law enforcement officials were searching for a suspect following a mass shooting event in Lewiston Wednesday night.
Police were searching for 40-year-old Robert Card, of Bowdoin, who is believed to have shot and killed 18 people and injured 13 at the Sparetime Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant.
At a Thursday morning press conference, Maine State Police said there is a warrant out for Card's arrest for eight counts of murder. They said the number would likely increase to 18, once the other 10 victims have been identified.
The motives behind Card's actions remain unknown.
He was considered to be armed and dangerous, according to police, and members of the public are advised to not approach him or make any contact.
According to an Army spokesperson, Card was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in Saco, but there are "no records to indicate he instructed or participated in any training," they said in a release.
The Army Office of the Chief of Public Affairs identified the suspect as Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Card II, a Petroleum Supply Specialist in the Army Reserve, who enlisted in December 2002. He has zero combat deployments.
Card was the recipient of the Army Achievement Medal, two Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
The suspect was also an engineering student at the University of Maine from 2001-2004 but did not graduate, according to a UMaine spokesperson.
Over the summer, Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks and reported "hearing voices and had threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco," AP reported.
Card "had been taken by police for an evaluation after military officials became concerned that he was acting erratically in mid-July," a U.S. official reportedly told AP.
NEWS CENTER Maine spoke with Card's sister-in-law, who said that mental health episode was recent.
Kate Card said the family has been working with police and law enforcement, allowing them to "search their entire farm" on Meadow Road in Bowdoin, where police surrounded a home Thursday night, ultimately turning up empty. No trespassing signs were set up in the area Friday.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to all those involved. We're doing everything we can to help assist law enforcement. We've been working with them nonstop since this happen," Kate Card said. "We all hope that he comes forward or he is found. And again, that we hope that the attention will go to victims and their families. Our hearts are broken."
