Maine shooting: Summary of Saturday a.m. press conference/police update

Briefing on Lewiston, ME shooting investigation just wrapped up.
Held by Mike Sauschuck, Maine Commissioner of Public Safety.
This will likely be the only PC.


A few takeaways:

- 821 tips and leads were received by LE

- A trauma service clean-up company out of Massachusetts has donated its resources and time to perform all crime scene cleaning so business owners won’t have to do so

- Card’s body was located Friday night around 7:45pm within a “box” trailer in an overflow lot of an industrial park area of 55-60 trailers filled with crushed cans, metal, plastic (Maine Recycling Corporation, 61 Capital Ave. Lisbon Falls, ME). Canine units were involved. A tactical team located him in the third trailer.

- That particular location had been cleared twice previously by a joint tactical team and Lisbon Falls police. Owner of the property was insistent that Card knew the property well and was subsequently very “diligent” in insisting that LE return to search again. Some of the trailers were locked, some weren’t. Card was found in an unlocked trailer.

- Card died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

- Autopsy will provide a range regarding time of death.

- One firearm (long gun) was found in Card’s car; two firearms were found at the scene of his body. Card was wearing the same sweatshirt as depicted in the photo of him at the bowling alley during the shooting.

- All recovered firearms were legally purchased by Card. Some were purchased recently, some were purchased years ago.

- Card left a note. It wasn’t an explicit suicide note, but he wanted to make sure his loved one had access to his phone, bank accounts; said he would no longer “be around.” Note included phone passcode, bank account number, password. The note referenced time of initial shooting, so police know it was written after the shooting.

- Motive: There’s definitely a mental health component and nexus. Indications of paranoia and trauma. No evidence that Card was previously, forcibly committed for treatment; so when buying a firearm, his name would not have pinged in a database. Many people have mental health diagnoses (“people in this room,” “police officers on our force”) and never harm anyone.

- Card felt people were talking to him, which specifically led him to the two shooting locations he chose.

- Police are currently seeking records to determine if voluntary committal for inpatient mental health services ever occurred. Military records will be explored.

- Shooter targeted two specific locations. This may change once his phone and devices are analyzed (much analysis remains to be done on technology).

- Concerning the victims who survived: 3 people remain in critical care; no available info on the other 10.

- Candlelight vigil in Lisbon Falls, ME to be held at 6pm tonight.

- Family Assistance Center (Lewiston Armory on Central Avenue) is available for family and individuals who were present at the shooting site. A separate site providing mental health assistance at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston has been created for the larger community.

- Hunting is open in Maine today.