(RepublicanPress.org) – As of October 27, the Gun Violence Archive reported there were 567 mass shootings in the United States, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries all across the country. The casualties throughout 2023 have included men, women, and children — young and old. The incidents have sparked a hot debate about gun rights for American citizens, including outright bans for certain weapons, background checks, and waiting periods. Recently, the archive added one more mass shooting to its tally.
On October 25, a lone gunman walked into the Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, and opened fire. Maine State Police quickly alerted the public to the situation, suggesting that residents in the area shelter in place and lock their doors because the shooter was still on the loose. Early reports were conflicted on whether the death toll was 16 or 22.
Lewiston Maine shooting live updates: All 18 victims identified as shelter-in-place lifted https://t.co/rWlVzLwmEh
— Talking Truth (@_TalkingTruth_) October 28, 2023
Hours after alerting Maine residents, the state police named the prime suspect as Robert Card. The notification said the suspect’s car was located in Lisbon, and they expanded the shelter-in-place order to that region. On October 26, authorities said schools were closed, Card was still on the loose. The police said they had over 100 investigators looking for the suspected shooter.
The Hill reported that Card is a 40-year-old firearms instructor with the Army Reserve, working at a training facility in Saco, Maine. He apparently spent some time in a mental health facility recently, stating he was hearing voices. It’s unclear why he still had access to weapons after that declaration.
Maine Governor Janet Mills held a press conference about the matter, where she revealed the death count was 18 and confirmed 13 more were injured. She spoke with President Joe Biden, and they both agreed to lower the US flag and Maine flag to half mast to honor the fallen for five days. Mills said their main focus was to capture the suspect and seek justice for the families.
On October 27, Card was found dead with a gunshot wound.
Copyright 2023, RepublicanPress.org
