The small town of Lewiston, Maine was left devastated after a mass shooting took place on October 25, 2023, leaving 18 people dead and 13 others injured. The suspected gunman, Robert Card, was found dead on Friday night after an extensive manhunt.[0] It is believed that Card used an assault-style weapon in the shooting.
Authorities discovered Card's body in a trailer near a recycling plant in Lisbon, Maine.[1] He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The search for Card lasted two days before he was finally found.[1] The exact location where his body was discovered was not revealed.
According to Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck, a note addressed to a loved one was found in Card's home.[1] Although it was not explicitly a suicide note, the note had a tone suggesting that Card did not plan to be around anymore.[2] It also included his phone and bank account information.[2]
The shooting deeply impacted the deaf community in Lewiston.[3] Four members of a deaf cornhole team were killed in the shooting, and two others were injured.[4] Dr. Karen Hopkins, the executive director of the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, expressed how the community was shattered and grieving deeply.[3]
Of the 13 injured victims, three remain in critical condition.[5] Their identities were not disclosed. The names of the 18 victims who lost their lives were released on Friday.[5] Some of the victims include Ronald Morin, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Joshua Seal, Maxx Hathaway, Stephen Vozzella, Jason Walker, Tricia Asselin, Robert Violette, Lucille Violette, William Brackett, and Keith Macneir.
The shooting in Lewiston marks the deadliest mass shooting in the United States this year. It is also the worst mass shooting since a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas, last year. This incident adds to the alarming number of mass shootings that have occurred in the country, with at least 566 happening this year alone, according to the Gun Violence Archive.[0]
The tragedy prompted Congressman Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine's 2nd District, to change his stance on gun control.[6] He acknowledged his previous opposition to banning assault-style weapons and expressed regret for his failure to act. Golden called on the U.S. Congress to ban assault rifles, like the one used in the shooting, to protect communities from further acts of violence.[7]
Authorities discovered that Card had legally purchased all the guns used in the shooting. It was reported that he had a mental health history, including a recent two-week stay at a mental health facility after making threats to shoot up a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine.[8]
The community of Lewiston is left mourning the loss of their loved ones and grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event. President Joe Biden also addressed the shooting, calling on Republicans in Congress to prioritize the safety of the American people and work towards ending the gun violence epidemic.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on providing support to the victims' families and preventing future acts of mass violence. The shooting in Lewiston serves as a somber reminder of the urgent need for gun control measures and mental health support in the United States.
0. “What we know about the victims of the Maine mass shooting” CNN, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/27/us/these-are-the-victims-of-the-maine-mass-shootings/index.html
1. “Details of note left by Lewiston, Maine gunman revealed” CBS Boston, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/lewiston-maine-gunman-robert-card-left-note/
2. “Robert Card, Suspect In Maine Shooting, Found Dead” TODAY, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.today.com/news/maine-shooting-suspect-rcna122511
3. “Maine shootings leave deaf community reeling after 4 are killed” NBC News, 29 Oct. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/maine-shootings-leave-deaf-community-reeling-4-are-killed-rcna122539
4. “Tears and relief in Maine after gunman's death” BBC.com, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67251030
5. “Maine gun sales spiked as authorities searched for Lewiston mass murderer Robert Card” Fox Business, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/maine-gun-sales-spiked-authorities-searched-lewiston-mass-murderer-robert-card
6. “Suspected Lewiston mass shooter found dead in Lisbon, officials” Boston 25 News, 28 Oct. 2023, https://www.boston25news.com/news/breaking-news/suspected-lewiston-mass-shooter-found-dead-lisbon-officials/W6RWITZOQBHOPHKGE7AOOS476A
7. “Biden asks ‘who the hell’ needs a high-capacity assault weapon after Maine shooting” The Hill, 28 Oct. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4280952-biden-high-capacity-assault-weapons-maine-shooting
8. “LIVE: Officials give updates as search continues for Robert Card” WMUR Manchester, 27 Oct. 2023, https://www.wmur.com/article/lewiston-maine-mass-shooting-news-update/45665380
