Robert Card, the 40-year-old suspect in a mass shooting that claimed 18 lives in Lewiston, Maine, was found dead near a recycling plant in Lisbon.
Law enforcement confirmed that Card died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to CBS, his body was discovered at around 7:45 p.m. local time near the Androscoggin River, approximately 8 miles southwest of Lewiston.
The search for Card involved hundreds of state and local police, as well as federal agents. His vehicle, a white Subaru Outback, was found abandoned near a boat launch on the Androscoggin River. Maine Governor Janet Mills expressed relief upon learning of Card's death, stating that he was no longer a threat to anyone.
President Biden's statement
President Biden issued a statement late Friday night, describing the events as tragic for both Lewiston and the entire country. He urged Republicans in Congress to take action against gun violence, vowing to do everything in his power to end the epidemic.
The mass shooting began with a 911 call about a shooting at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley in Lewiston, where seven people were killed. Minutes later, another shooting occurred at Schemengees Bar and Grille, resulting in eight more deaths. Three other victims died in area hospitals.
Authorities recovered a weapon from Card's abandoned vehicle and were examining his cellphone and online activity for clues to his motive. Card, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, had recently reported experiencing mental health issues and had threatened to shoot up a military base.
The events led to shelter-in-place orders in several communities, with schools being canceled and residents urged to stay indoors. The orders were lifted earlier on Friday. The victims of the mass shooting ranged in age from 14 to 76 and included a variety of individuals, from a bar manager to a 14-year-old and his father.
