Authorities in Maine are receiving support from fellow New England states and federal law enforcement in their hunt for Robert Card, suspected of killing 18 people in Lewiston in multiple shootings that left more than a dozen others injured.
Massachusetts State Police said that a trooper, a member of the agency’s bomb squad was sent in along with his K9 partner as a member of a federal ATF task force, according to the agency.
“Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn has been in contact with his counterparts from Maine and the other New England states to assess and coordinate capabilities for providing mutual aid to the Maine State Police,” according to an MSP statement released Thursday morning. “The full complement of Massachusetts State Police assets stand ready for deployment if requested, as necessitated by the evolving investigation and fugitive apprehension mission.”
State police are also continuing to probe whether or not Card, 40, has any connection to Massachusetts. So far, none have been confirmed, according to the statement.
“We continue to monitor all available intelligence and will update our local law enforcement partners and the public of any developments that affect our state,” the statement said.
Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck described Card as a person of interest in a briefing he gave following Wednesday night’s mass shooting. Thursday morning, Card was declared a suspect and a warrant charges him with eight counts of murder, with more charges expected, authorities said.
It’s not just Massachusetts lending its support, as New Hampshire’s Department of Safety also said it and other agencies “assisted Maine with numerous resource requests” following the shooting Wednesday night.
“Valerie and I are heartbroken at the senseless act of violence in Lewiston, and are thinking of the victims and their families during this horrific time,” said Governor Chris Sununu, adding that the state will continue to provide any necessary resources in Maine’s efforts to track down the suspect. “The State of New Hampshire stands with the people of Maine — they are our friends, families, and neighbors.”
That support, according to the Department of Safety statement, includes the presence of multiple special units of the New Hampshire State Police up north to assist in the search and detectives to assist with the investigation, troopers with the Peer Support Unit to provide mental health services in the wake of the tragedy, and the ferrying of blood donations.
Other support includes that of the state medical examiner’s office and the presence of three victim advocates to assist with services for the families of the shooting victims.
A Herald reporter in Lewiston also spotted agents with federal insignia, meaning promised federal resources had arrived.
“President Biden just reached out to Senator (Angus) King directly and offered any federal assistance he can provide to help the people of Maine,” the independent senator’s office tweeted after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. The statement added that King would be “headed to Maine on one of the first flights available — he wants to be home to support Lewiston in any way he can.”
Agents with the federal agencies of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also released statements that they had responded to the area.
