Town of Lewiston Grapples with Tragedy:
The normally bustling streets of Lewiston, Maine, have taken on a haunting, deserted look following a horrifying mass shooting that claimed the lives of at least 18 people.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, authorities have issued shelter-in-place orders in the town and its surroundings.
Most schools and local businesses have shuttered their doors, while the suspected gunman, 40-year-old Robert Card, remains at large.
Eerie Images of an Empty Town:
Images that have emerged from the small town where the shooting unfolded paint a surreal picture.
Streets that were once filled with life and activity are now populated only by tactical law enforcement crews and their vehicles.
In the midst of the eerie silence, some residents have placed heart-shaped cutouts with messages of positivity on trees along the sidewalks.
Anxious Wait for Safety:
The search for the alleged gunman is ongoing, and Lewiston’s streets will remain deserted until officials can ensure the safety of the town’s residents.
The suspect’s car was found abandoned in Lisbon shortly after the shooting, leading investigators to consider the possibility that he may have escaped through a body of water.
Audio from police dispatchers suggested the suspect may have crossed into Massachusetts, but Massachusetts State Police have not substantiated this claim.
Families Plead for Surrender:
Card’s family has made emotional pleas for him to turn himself in.
His sister-in-law revealed that he had heard voices at the bowling alley and bar where he launched his deadly attack.
Survivors and bereaved family members have started sharing their experiences, and the names of victims have begun to emerge.
The rampage has left at least 18 people dead and 13 more injured, marking it as one of the deadliest mass shootings in 2023.
A Tragic Year for Mass Shootings:
This horrifying event represents the 34th mass killing involving more than four victims in the United States this year.
Of the 18 victims, nine have been officially named.
The first victim to be identified was Bob Violette, a 76-year-old retired mechanic who was devoted to his grandkids.
Tricia Asselin, 53, who worked at the bowling alley, and Joseph Walker, 57, a bar manager at Schemengee’s, were also among the identified victims.
Ongoing Search for Answers:
As the manhunt for Card continues, new details about his life and the events leading up to the tragedy have come to light.
He lived in a compound with a family known for their enthusiasm for firearms.
Liam Kent, a local resident, described Card’s family as “gun-toting enthusiasts” and recalled frequent gunfire from their property.
Troubling History:
Card’s history includes involuntary psychiatric treatment earlier in the year after he reported hearing voices and having thoughts of harming other soldiers while training at Camp Smith in New York.
The situation remains fluid as authorities work tirelessly to locate the suspect and understand the motives behind this tragic event.
People