The suspect in Wednesday’s mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that killed 18 people and injured 13, was found dead by Maine State Police on Friday, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said during a news conference.
Robert Card, 40, was found dead near a river in Lisbon, Maine, Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre. He was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 7:45 p.m. ET, Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said. Sauschuck said hunting restrictions have been lifted and another briefing is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.
“On behalf of all the people of Maine, I want to express my deepest gratitude for their unwavering courage, determination and bravery,” Mills said. After the suspect was found, Mills called President Joe Biden, she said.
“I’m relieved to know that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone,” Mills said. “Now is the time to heal.”
“Tonight, the city of Lewiston and the state of Maine begin to move forward on what will be a long and difficult road to recovery,” Mills said.
A law enforcement source told CNN that Card’s body was found near the recycling center from which he had recently been fired.
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Authorities said the first call about the shooting came in Wednesday at 6:56 p.m. reporting a shooting at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley. At 7:08 p.m., a call came in about a shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grille, about four miles away.
Seven people were killed in Just-In-Time. At Schemengees, which is about four miles from Just-In-Time, seven people were killed inside and one was killed outside the bar. Three victims died at the hospital, authorities said.
The eight fatalities have been identified, authorities said Thursday morning. Because the remaining 10 victims have not been identified, an arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect on eight counts of murder, authorities said Thursday morning.
Army spokesman Bryce Dubee tells PEOPLE the suspect is an oil supply specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve. The Associated Press, citing a state police bulletin, reports that the suspect was recently committed to a mental health facility for two weeks last summer.
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According to the news release, the suspect threatened to commit a shooting at a military base in Saco, Maine. The bulletin also says the suspect said he heard voices.
Lewiston has a population of about 38,500 and is the second most populous city in the state after Portland, located about 55 miles to the south. It is the home of Bates College and the Dempsey Center, founded by actor Patrick Dempsey to support people affected by ovarian cancer.
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Source: HIS Education