Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) and Maine authorities confirmed on Friday night that Robert Card, the suspect in the Lewiston mass shooting, was found dead.
Mills said during a press conference on Friday that she is “breathing a sigh of relief” over the fact that Card “is no longer a threat to anyone.”
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“I also know that his death may not bring solace to many, but now is the time to heal. With this search concluded, I know that law enforcement continues to fully investigate all the facts so we can bring what closure we can to the victims and their families,” Mills said.
Mike Sauschuck, the commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, said Card’s body was discovered at 7:45 p.m. Friday, and it was located along the Androscoggin River in Lisbon Falls, but he declined to provide an exact address. Sauschuck confirmed that Card was found with a self-afflicted gunshot wound.
Prior to the conference, the Bangor Daily News reported that Card’s body was located near a recycling center where he used to work, and his body was in the same clothes he had on during the two shootings on Wednesday.
Sauschuck said all the victims’ families and the family of the suspect were alerted to Card’s death before police released the information to the public.
“They lost a loved one in this scenario,” Sauschuck said of Card’s family, who he added were “very cooperative” throughout the investigation. “So they deserve that phone call.”
The manhunt was nonstop, Sauschuck said, and some locations were searched multiple times. He could not speak to Card having any accomplices in the shooting or aftermath but said there has been “no indication” of that since the beginning.
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Card is alleged to have entered Sparetime Recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant and opened fire, killing 18 people across both establishments. It was announced Friday that all 18 victims had been identified.
Sauschuck said more information on Card’s death and the investigation will be released during a press conference on Saturday morning.
