Maine gunman identified as US army’s petroleum supply specialist – as police intensify manhunt
A gunman who shot dead 18 people in the US state of Maine has been identified as a US Army Reserve petroleum supply specialist.
Robert Card, who is still on the run, has over two decades of service and no prior overseas deployments, the army confirmed.
Maine police intensified their search on Thursday for the 40-year-old US Army reservist, following a shooting incident that resulted in 18 deaths and 13 injuries at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston the previous night.
Card, holding the rank of sergeant 1st class, enlisted in December 2002, according to army officials.
Police are searching for 40-year-old Robert Card
Maine governor, Janet Mills, warned residents in a news conference on Thursday not to approach the “person of interest” who is “armed and dangerous” and to call police immediately if he is spotted.
“I’m profoundly saddened to stand before you today to report that 18 people lost their lives and 13 people were injured in last night’s attacks,” she said.
“In memory of those we lost, and in honour of those who were injured, President Biden and I have ordered all US flags to be lowered…for the next five days.”
She added: “Maine state police have issued a shelter in place order for Lewiston, Bowdoin and Lisburn as the manhunt continues for that person of interest.
“Mr Card is considered armed and dangerous and police advise that Maine people should not approach him under any circumstances.”
‘We cannot accept it’, Biden says
President Joe Biden urged residents in the vicinity of the Maine mass shootings suspect search to follow the guidance provided by local law enforcement.
“For countless Americans who have survived gun violence and been traumatised by it, a shooting such as this reopens deep and painful wounds,” he said in a statement, adding that he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the families of the victims.
“Far too many Americans have now had a family member killed or injured as a result of gun violence. That is not normal, and we cannot accept it.”
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Suspect ‘armed and dangerous’
Suspect was under mental health care
Card, who had reportedly been under mental health care earlier in the summer, was taken by police for evaluation after acting erratically at West Point in July, according to a US official.
Another anonymous US official told the Associated Press that commanders from the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, grew worried about Card’s erratic behaviour during their training at West Point.
Concerned for his safety, military officials called the police. New York state police then took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for evaluation.
In an extensive manhunt, law enforcement officers spread out across southern Maine armed with an arrest warrant for Card on eight counts of murder.
Police circulated images of a man, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and jeans, captured at one of the crime scenes, wielding what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle.
Police have released images of the suspect.
Pic: Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office
The US Army confirmed that Card, a sergeant and petroleum supply specialist in the Army Reserve, had never been deployed in combat since his enlistment in 2002.
The attacks began shortly before 7pm local time at Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, resulting in the deaths of one female patron and six males, according to police.
A map showing the city of Lewiston in the US State of Maine
Map of US shooting in Maine at Schemengees Bar and Grille and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley – which are situated about four miles apart.
The ages of the victims were not provided. Shortly after, reports of another shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, approximately three miles (5km) away, were received.
Police said that seven males were fatally shot at that location. Additionally, three victims died in hospital.
Several parents and children were present at Sparetime as part of a children’s bowling league.
Brandon said he heard 10 shots while at the bowling alley
One of the bowlers, who identified himself as Brandon, recounted the incident, saying: “I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon – he was holding a weapon – I just booked it.” He described hearing about 10 shots, initially mistaking the first for a balloon popping.
Brandon further explained how he hurriedly fled down the alley, eventually sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. Reflecting on the situation, he mentioned, “I was putting on my bowling shoes when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours.”
There are 161 people still missing in Texas in the aftermath of last weekend’s deadly flash floods, the state’s governor has said.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, governor Gregg Abbot said the number of missing had risen markedly.
He said among the missing were five children and one counsellor from Camp Mystic – where at least 27 people were killed in the flash flooding.
At least 109 people are confirmed to have died in the floods, which took place on the 4 July weekend, but this figure has been steadily climbing ever since.
People comforted each other in Kerville. Pic: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP
The bulk of deaths, and the main search for additional bodies, have been concentrated in Kerr County and the city of Kerrville.
The area was transformed into a disaster zone when torrential rains struck the region early last Friday, unleashing deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River.
Travis County, Kendall County, Burnett County, Williamson County, and Tom Green County were also hit.
Mr Abbot said many of those who were unaccounted for were in the Texas Hill Country area, but had not registered at a camp or hotel, posing further challenges for authorities.
Camp Mystic
Mr Abbot planned to make another visit to Camp Mystic.
The century-old all-girls Christian summer camp was badly hit by the flash floods, with at least 27 campers and counsellors dying.
Hanna Lawrence, left, and Rebecca Lawrence, right. Pic: John Lawrence/AP
Lila Bonner (L) and Eloise Peck both died in the flash floods at Camp Mystic, Texas. Pic: Family handout
Chloe Childress. Pic: Debra Alexander Photography via AP
Some of the victims include Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence, both eight, Chloe Childress, 19, who was among the counsellors at Camp Mystic when the flood hit, and Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner, both nine.
There were scenes of devastation at the camp as the flood water receded.
Outside the cabins where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered.
Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage, decorated with stickers.
A view inside a cabin at Camp Mystic after the flooding. Pic: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images
Camper’s belongings lie on the ground following flooding on the Guadalupe River, at Camp Mystic.
Pic: Reuters
‘Everything looked flooded and broken’
One of the campers, 10-year-old Lucy Kennedy, told Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, that she woke up to the sound of thunder at around midnight before the floods struck.
“I couldn’t go back to sleep,” she said. “I just had a feeling that something really bad was about to happen.”
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She said the girls at the camp were told to grab blankets, pillows and water bottles and line up single file as the floodwater rose, before getting airlifted to safety.
Wynne Kennedy, Lucy’s mother, added: “When I saw her, she was wrapped up in a blanket, had a teddy bear.
“We just held each other tight, and I held her all night.”
Their home in Kerrville was also destroyed by the flash floods.
Lucy Kennedy, 10 who was rescued from Camp Mystic, and her mother Wynne. Pic: NBC
Political row
Meanwhile, a political row has unfolded parallel to the recovery efforts, with some questioning whether local authorities sent out warnings and alerts early enough.
Similarly, Democrats have criticised Donald Trump over cuts his Elon Musk-launched Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made to the National Weather Service – but it isn’t clear whether these actually made any difference.
Read more:
Sisters killed in Texas flooding found holding hands
Why did deadly Texas floods catch people by surprise?
Wall of water
The flash floods erupted before daybreak on Friday, after massive amounts of rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight metres in less than an hour.
The wall of water overwhelmed cabins, tents and trails along the river’s edge.
Some survivors were found clinging to trees.
Some of the campers had to swim out of their cabin windows to get to safety, while others clung to rope to make it to higher ground.
The date for Sean “Diddy” Combs’s sentencing hearing has been confirmed.
Following his high-profile trial, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution by jurors in Manhattan, New York, last week – but was cleared of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Defence lawyers argued Combs, who has been in prison in Brooklyn since his arrest in September last year, should be bailed ahead of sentencing given the not guilty verdicts for the more serious charges, but Judge Arun Subramanian denied this – citing, among other things, the rapper’s own admissions of previous violent behaviour.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in court after the verdict was delivered. Pic: Reuters/ Jane Rosenberg
The charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy carried a potential life sentence. Combs still faces up to 20 years in prison for the prostitution-related offences, but is not expected to receive the maximum punishment.
After the verdict was delivered, the judge scheduled the sentencing hearing for 3 October. At a remote follow-up conference on Tuesday, with agreement from the defence and prosecution, the judge approved the date.
Combs joined the call but did not make any comment.
Any sentence will include credit for time already served – which will be just over a year by the time the hearing takes place.
During his trial, Combs was accused by prosecutors of abusing and coercing three alleged victims, including his former long-term partner, singer and model Cassie Ventura.
Jurors found the allegations did not amount to sex-trafficking or racketeering, or running a criminal enterprise – but they did find him guilty of transporting Cassie and another former girlfriend “Jane” for prostitution offences around the US, and paying male escorts to engage in sexual encounters.
Despite the guilty verdict on those charges, the 55-year-old’s team described it as “the victory of all victories”.
Read more:
How the trial unfolded
The rise and fall of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
In an interview over the weekend, defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said Combs had received a standing ovation from fellow inmates when he returned to jail after being acquitted of the more serious charges.
“They all said, ‘We never get to see anyone who beats the government’,” he said.
Ahead of sentencing, Combs’s lawyers will file their recommendations by 19 September, with prosecutors likely to follow a week later.
Prosecutors previously said the rapper could face about four to five years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, while the defence has suggested a two-year sentence.
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