Manhunt underway in Maine for Army reservist suspected in mass shooting

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Manhunt underway in Maine for Army reservist suspected in mass shooting

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The Big Story 

Manhunt underway for Maine Army reservist suspected in mass shooting 

Authorities are still searching for an Army reservist suspected of killing at least 18 people and injuring another 13 Wednesday night in a mass shooting in Maine.

© AP Photo/Bryan Woolston

Police have identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in shootings at two locations in Lewiston, Maine. Card, a member of the Army Reserves, is “considered armed and dangerous,” according to officials.

 

More than 100 federal and local investigators are searching for Card, who the Army on Thursday confirmed is a U.S. Army reservist who enlisted in December of 2002.

 

“Sgt. 1st Class Robert R. Card II is a Petroleum Supply Specialist in the Army Reserve, enlisting in December 2002,” an Army spokesperson told The Hill.

 

The spokesperson said Card has no combat deployments, though he did receive awards including the Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (twice), Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

 

The service later elaborated about Card’s time as a service member following reports that he behaved “erratically” while helping train West Point cadets over the summer.

 

Card, who is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment in Saco, Maine, deployed with his Army Reserve Unit to Camp Smith Training Center in Upstate New York in July to help train the cadets, according to service spokesperson Bryce Dubee.

 

But while his unit supported the summer training, “there are no records to indicate [Card] instructed or participated in any training,” Dubee said in a statement.

 

Furthermore, the Army did not train Card as a firearms instructor, nor did he serve in that capacity for the Army.

 

Multiple outlets have reported that Card allegedly threatened other soldiers with violence at the training site, prompting his superiors to informed garrison staff about his behavior on July 17.

 

The unit requested that law enforcement be contacted over concerns for his safety, and Card was transported to Keller Army Community Hospital at the U.S. Military Academy for medical evaluation.

 

Read the live updates at TheHill.com.

 

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