Lewiston police identified the shooter as Robert R. Card, a 40yearold white male with a beard who was wearing a brown sweatshirt and blue jeans. According to the New York Times, he used a semiautomatic rifle in the attack.
He is a reservist and rifle instructor in the US Army and suffers from mental illness.. According to Portal, he threatened to attack a National Guard base. “Robert R. Card was admitted to a psychiatric facility for two weeks in early 2023 and later released,” the information center said in a statement.
Police urged residents to stay indoors while they search for the shooter. “Please stay in your home with the doors locked,” state police said. “If you see any suspicious activity or people, call 911.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the investigation, CBS News reported.
A white pickup truck was found just over 10 kilometers from Lewiston. Police suspect it is the same car that was driving the night of the crime. The hypothesis is that the shooter drove to the city of Lisbon, where he abandoned the vehicle and took a boat to continue his escape. Police released a picture of the shooter’s car and asked anyone who recognized the vehicle to help.
Lewiston public schools are closed. “Please continue to stay put or stay safe. We will continue to update you with information and next steps as appropriate,” District Manager Jake Langlais wrote.
What the authorities say
Joe Biden has already been informed about the shooting attack. According to the White House, the US President will continue to receive updates.