Maine, US - The individual suspected of perpetrating a shooting spree in Lewiston, Maine, resulting in the tragic deaths of 18 people and injuries to 13 others, was discovered deceased on Friday, marking the culmination of a 48-hour manhunt. This manhunt followed what is now the deadliest incident of gun violence in the history of the state. Law enforcement officials have revealed that the suspect's lifeless body was found, yet the circumstances surrounding his demise remain undisclosed, pending an upcoming press release, according to a spokesperson from the neighboring Lisbon Police Department.

Unnamed sources in law enforcement, as reported by ABC News, have disclosed that the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Robert R Card, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Card's remains were located near a recycling center in Lisbon, a place where he had recently been terminated from employment, as reported by CNN, citing an inside source from law enforcement.

Robert R Card, a US Army reservist, is believed to be the individual responsible for opening fire at a bowling alley and subsequently at a bar, mere minutes apart, on the fateful Wednesday night. The shootings, combined with the extensive manhunt, sent shockwaves through the typically bustling yet peaceful community of Lewiston, which is a former textile hub and the second-largest city in Maine. Situated on the banks of the Androscoggin River, Lewiston is approximately 56 kilometers north of the state's largest city, Portland, and nearly as far southwest of Maine's capital, Augusta.

Card, an Army Reserve sergeant hailing from the nearby town of Bowdoin, was described by authorities as a proficient firearms instructor who served as a petroleum supply specialist during his duty at the military reserve base in Saco, Maine. Law enforcement officials have also indicated that he had a history of mental illness and had been admitted to a psychiatric facility for a two-week period during the summer of 2023 before his subsequent release.

Shortly after the tragic events of Wednesday night, law enforcement shared surveillance camera images from one of the crime scenes. These images depicted a bearded man dressed in a brown hooded sweatshirt and jeans, carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle.

During the manhunt, hundreds of officers from various agencies, including local police, sheriff's deputies, the FBI, and the US Coast Guard, joined the search efforts. Canadian authorities, including border officers, were also on high alert.

The initial leads directed law enforcement to Lisbon, situated about 11 kilometers to the southeast, where Maine State Police located a white SUV believed to have been used by Card as his escape vehicle. This vehicle was found parked at a boat launch on the river. Public records indicated that Card owned at least one watercraft made by Sea-Doo, a company renowned for its jet ski-style personal watercraft.

In their quest to locate Card, law enforcement deployed divers and sonar equipment to search the waters of the Androscoggin River on Friday. Additionally, teams of officers conducted door-to-door inquiries in the neighborhood, seeking further evidence and potential witnesses.

According to information from the US Army, Card enlisted in the military in 2002 but did not see combat. A Maine law enforcement bulletin issued on the night of the incident revealed that Card had recently reported mental health issues, including auditory hallucinations, and had made threats to "shoot up the National Guard Base in Saco."