Who is Robert Card? Man wanted for questioning in Maine mass shooting

Robert Card is now wanted for murder in connection to two mass shootings that left at least 18 people dead and injured more than a dozen others in Maine, on Wednesday night.

The statewide manhunt for Card continued Thursday morning after police named the 40-year-old a suspect in shootings at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, and Schemengees Bar and Grille in Lewiston, a city in Androscoggin County about 35 miles north of Portland and about 33 miles southwest of Augusta.

Earlier police had named Card a person of interest in the case but on Thursday morning during a press conference announced a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Law enforcement reported a lone shooter walked into the bowling alley just before 6:56 p.m. and unleashed a hail of gunfire on patrons and employees.

Twelve minutes later, at 7:08 p.m., people reported an active shooter at the bar, located about 4 miles south in a tiny business district just east of the Androscoggin River.

Police have warned people to be on alert and stay off the streets in Lewiston and neighboring communities.

Lewiston police and other agencies including the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office posted a photo of Card on social media asking anyone who sees him or knows his whereabouts to immediately call 911.

Here's what we know so far about Card:

What does Robert Card look like?

A driver's license photo released by police depicts Card with what appears to be brown hair, brown eyes, a mustache and a beard that runs down his neck.

A snap taken from video surveillance at one of the crime scenes posted on social media by law enforcement depicts a bearded man wearing a brown hoodie, blue jeans and tan shoes, holding what appears to be a long black, semi-automatic rifle in the firing position.

What is Robert Card wanted for?

Eighteen people died and 13 were injured in the evening rampage, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said at a news conference Thursday morning.

Authorities said seven people at the bowling alley were killed, including one female and six males. At the bar, eight people −all males, were killed. Three people later died at the hospital. Eight fatal victims have been identified as of late Thursday morning. Authorities did not release the ages and identities of those who died.

A warrant is out for Card’s arrest in connection to the murder of the eight identified individuals, police announced Thursday.

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Card's brother pleads for him to turn himself in

Card's brother, Ryan Card, told CNN his family is cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation "in anyway possible," including urging Robert Card to turn himself in. The outlet reported Ryan Card would not say if his brother responded to the family’s requests. 

Ryan Card could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY.

"The police have been given anything that we can offer to facilitate their efforts," he told CNN. “There are many people hurting out there, please focus on them … this is many people’s worst nightmare.” 

What vehicle was Robert Card last known to drive?

A vehicle believed to have been driven by Card was found overnight in Lisbon, about eight miles away from Lewiston, according to Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck.

Card was last known to be operating a 2013 white Subaru Outback with a black bumper with the license plate: 9246PD.

How old is Robert Card?

Police said Card was born in April of 1983 and is 40 years old.

Maine shooting live updates:Latest news on manhunt for Robert Card, a person of interest

Where is Robert Card from?

Public records show Card's last known address is in the town of Bowdoin, about 15 miles east of Lewiston and 21 miles south of Augusta, the state capital.

Bowdoin is located in Sagadahoc County, which borders Androscoggin County to the southeast. Its population was 3,136 at the most recent census.

Records show he previously lived in Penobscot County, where Bangor is the county seat, as well as in Corinna and Orono − also small towns with less than 4,000 people living in them per the last census.

Is Robert Card in the Army Reserve?

Card has been trained as a firearms instructor at a U.S. Army Reserve training facility in Maine, according to a bulletin shared Wednesday by authorities with the Associated Press.

At the time of the shooting, Card was a sergeant first class in the Army Reserve, according to the Army. He enlisted in December 2002 and has no combat deployments. His military specialty is petroleum supply. Card has several awards, including a Humanitarian Service Medal.

A U.S. official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said commanders with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment noticed in mid-July that "Card was acting erratically while the unit was training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York," according to the Associated Press.

Military commanders became concerned about Card's safety and asked for police to be called, the AP reported. Card was taken to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for an "evaluation."

In addition, the police bulletin circulating Wednesday also said Card previously reported hearing voices and threatened to carry out a shooting at the military training base in Saco, Maine. The base is about 50 miles north of Lewiston.

What is the motive in the shootings?

A motive in the shooting was not immediately known on Thursday morning.

Where did Robert Card go to school?

It was not immediately known where Card attended high school.

But public records show he attended the University of Maine and studied engineering.

Card attended the university from 2001-2004, Eric B. Gordon, the school's director of communications, told USA TODAY on Thursday, and studied engineering technology.

"He did not complete his degree studies and did not graduate," Gordon said.

Card owns a home and boats

Public records show Card has been a homeowner in Bowdoin since at least 2007. He also owns a boat and at least one jet ski. 

Card should not be approached

According to law enforcement, Card is considered armed and dangerous.

He should not be approached and anyone who sees him should notify law enforcement as soon as possible.

Contributing: Minnah Arshad, Thao Nguyen, Vanessa Arredondo and The Associated Press.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.