Topline
State officials rescinded a shelter-in-place order for residents in southern Maine on Friday, nearly two days after they issued it in response to a multi-location mass shooting that killed 18 and injured 13—the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. this year.
Residents were ordered to shelter in place as police searched for the suspect of Wednesday’s mass … [+]
Key Facts
Officials announced at a press conference they had lifted the order, which included the towns of Lewiston, Lisbon, Bowdoin and Monmouth—where police have been searching for the suspected mass shooter.
Hunting is prohibited in the towns, officials said, a day ahead of the start of the most busy stretch of deer hunting season.
Bowdoin was searched by law enforcement Thursday night, when investigators reportedly found a suicide note at a home associated with Robert Card, the alleged shooter, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities acknowledged the shelter-in-place order might be doing more harm than good to residents, according to the New York Times.
Key Background
Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist and certified firearms instructor, has been accused of killing 18 and injuring 13 in two separate shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston on Wednesday night. Card’s family informed police and his Army Reserve base that he was experiencing an “acute” mental health episode weeks before the shooting. Card’s sister-in-law, Katie Card, told the Wall Street Journal that Card started hearing voices after receiving hearing aids six months to a year ago. A large-scale manhunt for Card started the same night as the shootings, with multiple agencies such as the FBI and the Coast Guard becoming involved. Divers searched the Androscoggin River on Friday after authorities found Card’s car nearby it earlier this week.
Tangent
Maine director of public safety Michael Sauschuck confirmed the names of the shootings’ victims Friday, who ranged in age from 14 to 73.
What To Watch For
Sauschuck also said Friday that authorities searching for Card are unsure whether he’s still alive or whether his body might be in the local river.
Further Reading
Maine Police Identify All Lewiston Shooting Victims—Who Ranged From Age 14 To 73 (Forbes)
Maine Shooting: Divers Sent Into River As Search For Suspect Robert Card Expands (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/27/shelter-in-place-order-lifted-for-southern-maine-as-manhunt-for-mass-shooting-suspect-continues/