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.”
US
Donald Trump plans to hit Canada with new tariff – while warning of blanket hike for other countries
Donald Trump has said he plans to hit Canada with a 35% tariff on imported goods, as he warned of a blanket 15 or 20% hike for most other countries.
In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the US president wrote: “I must mention that the flow of Fentanyl is hardly the only challenge we have with Canada, which has many Tariff, and Non-Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers.”
Mr Trump’s tariffs were allegedly an effort to get Canada to crack down on fentanyl smuggling, and the US president has expressed frustration with Canada’s trade deficit with the US.
In a statement Mr Carney said: “Throughout the current trade negotiations with the United States, the Canadian government has steadfastly defended our workers and businesses. We will continue to do so as we work towards the revised deadline of August 1.”
He added: “Canada has made vital progress to stop the scourge of fentanyl in North America. We are committed to continuing to work with the United States to save lives and protect communities in both our countries.”
Mr Trump has sent a series of tariff letters to 23 countries so far, including one putting a 50% tariff on Brazil in part for the ongoing trial of its former president Jair Bolsonaro for trying to stay in office after he lost the election in 2022.
Mr Trump was similarly indicted for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.
The higher rates would go into effect on 1 August.
Shortly after Mr Trump unveiled his “Liberation Day” tariffs on 2 April, there was a huge sell-off on the financial markets. The US president later announced a 90-day negotiating period, during which a 10% baseline tariff would be charged on most imported goods.
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But in an interview with Sky News’s partner network NBC News, Mr Trump said he plans to impose higher blanket tariffs on most US trade partners.
“We’re just going to say all of the remaining countries are going to pay, whether it’s 20% or 15%. We’ll work that out now,” he said.
He added: “I think the tariffs have been very well-received. The stock market hit a new high today.”
The US and UK signed a trade deal in June, with the US president calling it “a fair deal for both” and saying it will “produce a lot of jobs, a lot of income”.
Sir Keir Starmer said the document “implements” the deal to cut tariffs on cars and aerospace, adding: “So this is a very good day for both of our countries – a real sign of strength.”
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The US president also teased a “major statement” he will make on Russia over its war with Ukraine.
“I’m disappointed in Russia, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday.”
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It comes as Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said a new round of talks between Moscow and Washington on bilateral problems could take place before the end of the summer.
A Palestinian activist who was detained for over three months in a US immigration jail after protesting against Israel is suing Donald Trump’s administration for $20m (£15m) in damages.
Lawyers for Mahmoud Khalil have filed a claim against the administration alleging he was falsely imprisoned, maliciously prosecuted and smeared as an antisemite as the government sought to deport him over his role in campus protests.
The 30-year-old graduate student at Columbia University told Sky News’s lead world presenter Yalda Hakim being detained by ICE agents in March “felt like kidnapping”.
He described “plain-clothed agents and unmarked cars” taking him “from one place to another, expecting you just to follow orders and shackled all the time”, which he said was “really scary”.
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Mahmoud Khalil reunites with family after release
Mr Khalil said he was not presented with an arrest warrant and wasn’t told where he was being taken.
He said the detention centre he was taken to was “as far from humane as it could be” and “a place where you have no rights whatsoever”.
“You share a dorm with over 70 men with no privacy, with lights on all the time, with really terrible food. You’re basically being dehumanised at every opportunity. It’s a black hole,” he added.
Mr Khalil said he would also accept an official apology from the Trump administration.
The Trump administration celebrated Mr Khalil’s arrest, promising to deport him and others whose protests against Israel it declared were “pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American activity”.
Mr Khalil said after around 36 hours in captivity he was allowed to speak to his wife, who was pregnant at the time.
“These were very scary hours, I did not know what was happening on the outside. I did not know that my wife was safe,” he said.
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‘Absolutely absurd allegations’
Mr Khalil said administration officials had made “absolutely absurd allegations” by saying he as involved in antisemitic activities and supporting Hamas.
“They are weaponising antisemitism, weaponising anti-terrorism in order to stifle speech,” he said. “What I was engaged in is simply opposing a genocide, opposing war crimes, opposing Columbia University’s complicity in the war on Gaza.”
A State Department spokesperson said its actions toward Mr Khalil were fully supported by the law.
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Asked about missing the birth of his son while he was in prison, Mr Khalil said: “I don’t think there’s any word that can describe the agony and the sadness that I went through, to be deprived from such a divine moment, from a moment that my wife and I had always dreamed about.”
Meanwhile, the deportation case against Mr Khalil is continuing to wind its way through the immigration court system.
Donald Trump has praised the Liberian president’s command of English – the West African country’s official language.
The US president reacted with visible surprise to Joseph Boakai’s English-speaking skills during a White House meeting with leaders from the region on Wednesday.
After the Liberian president finished his brief remarks, Mr Trump told him he speaks “such good English” and asked: “Where did you learn to speak so beautifully?”
Mr Trump seemed surprised when Mr Boakai laughed and responded he learned in Liberia.
The US president said: “It’s beautiful English.
“I have people at this table who can’t speak nearly as well.”
Mr Boakai did not tell Mr Trump that English is the official language of Liberia.
The country was founded in 1822 with the aim of relocating freed African slaves and freeborn black citizens from the US.
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Mr Trump promised the leaders of Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau a pivot from aid to trade at the surprise meeting.
He described the countries as “all very vibrant places with very valuable land, great minerals, and great oil deposits, and wonderful people”.
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Later asked by a reporter if he’ll visit the continent, Mr Trump said, “At some point, I would like to go to Africa.”
But he added that he’d “have to see what the schedule looks like”.
Trump’s predecessor, President Joe Biden, promised to go to Africa in 2023, but only fulfilled the commitment by visiting Angola in December 2024, just weeks before he left office.
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