Lewiston Maine shooting update: State police slammed for ‘radio silence’ during manhunt for suspect

WATCH: Gun store owner recalls his interaction with Robert Card when he tried to buy a gun silencer

Another missed warning signed revealed: suspected shooter spoke ‘aggressively’ about guns

NBC News spoke to Card’s former Maine Recycling Corporation coworkers, revealing yet another missed warning sign ahead of this year’s deadliest shooting.

According to the ex-colleague, Card’s behaviour became more erratic and he spoke “aggressively” about guns before he left his job. Another colleague said a supervisor was warned that Card had allegedly had made gun violence threats in the workplace, but the complaint felt like “it was swept under the rug.”

One colleague said issues started cropping up a year after Card began working at the recycling facility; Card displayed a “total mood change,” the source said.

“He irrationally snapped. We’d do good the whole day, but then would say that I touched him. He said I was sexually harassing him, calling him a pedophile,” the coworker said.

Card apparently spoke of guns frequently, including his desire to purchase a silencer — which he was ultimately unable to do. “I knew it was going to come eventually. I said, ‘One day, he’s probably going to shoot someone up,’” this colleague said. “He was bringing up guns heavily and aggressively. It was a very weird situation.”

Reactions to the mass shooting in the immediate aftermath

The attacks were oundly condemned by politicians and gun safety advocacy groups, as well as Maine native and author Stephen King.

President Joe Biden ordered all US flags to be flown at half-mast, writing online: “Once again, our nation mourns after another senseless and tragic mass shooting. Today, Jill and I pray for the Americans in Maine who’ve lost their lives, those in critical care, and the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief.”

In her own statement, Vice President Kamala Harris called for tighter gun safety laws, telling reporters: “President Biden and I are not waiting around. Through the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, we will continue to work to save lives. “We do not have a moment to spare, nor a life to spare.”

The White House also asked newly-elected House speaker Mike Johnson to “work together” on gun legislation in the wake of the incident. “The House has a new speaker, who has said he is ready to get to work and find common ground,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in her afternoon briefing.

Earlier, Mr Johnson – who was elected on Wednesday – faced criticism after simply offering “prayers” following the mass shooting, which he described as a “horrific tragedy”.

“This is a dark time in America, we have a lot of problems and we’re really, really hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate in a time like this, that the evil can end and this senseless violence can stop,” he said. “And so that’s that’s the statement this morning on behalf of the entire House of Representatives. Everyone wants this to end and I’ll leave it there.”

Meanwhile, Republican frontrunner and former president Donald Trump made a short statement on Truth Social saying, “A terrible situation going on in Maine. At least 22 dead. It just seems to never end for the USA!”

“This heinous attack, which has robbed the lives of at least 18 Mainers and injured so many more, the worst mass shooting that the state of Maine has ever experienced — and could ever imagine,” Senator Susan Collins said at a news conference on Thursday evening.

What relatives have said about Robert Card

• Back in January, Card’s son apparently began noticing that his father was “starting to claim that people were saying things about him, while out in public”
• His ex-wife said she was “very worried about [their son] spending time with Robert, considering what may be a deteriorating mental health condition,” according to a May incident report
• His sister-in-law Karen Card also claimed that he had been hearing voices recently, adding that in “the past year, he had an acute episode of mental health, and it’s been a struggle”
• Three of Card’s relatives were among the first to call law enforcement to identify Card after seeing photos of him wielding a weapon

ICYMI: What we know about the gunman’s death

On Friday evening, Maine State Police said they found the gunman’s body in a box trailer in the overflow lot of Maine Recycling Corporation after a 48-hour-long manhunt.

The discovery came after the owner of the recycling plant reportedly called in, urging police to look at the 55 to 60 trailers in the lot. Police said they had “cleared” the area twice before getting the call from the owner, who was reportedly the shooter’s ex-boss.

The gunman is believed to have died by suicide.

“He is dead,” Maine Governor Janet Mills said at a news conference, as she thanked the officers involved in the manhunt.

Ms Mills added: “Like many people, I am breathing a sigh of relief tonight, knowing that Robert Card is no longer a threat to anyone… Now is the time to heal.”

Scenes of Lewiston healing after the atrocity

President of Brady United Against Gun Violence, Kris Brown, issued a statement in the aftermath of the shooting

“No American should leave their home and fear becoming the victim of a mass shooting, but tonight, Maine families are grieving from this untold loss of life. Americans – enjoying time with friends, families and loved ones – gunned down in the most cruel and sadistic way. Worse, this shooting is not unique, as the U.S. has experienced over 500 mass shootings this year. “The slaughtering of 18 people in a matter of minutes while bowling or sharing a beer with friends is exactly why assault weapons should be banned from our communities. These weapons of war are designed for one purpose – to kill as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time, which is why they’re the preferred weapon of mass murderers. “Instead of facing this issue head-on, our elected officials are going in the wrong direction at the time Americans need them most. Relying on weak gun industry-written ‘yellow-flag’ laws will allow tragedies to continue to plague every community in our country.”

The unsuccessful welfare check and alert, revealed

“I would rather err on the side of caution with regards to Card since he is a capable marksman and, if he should set his mind to carry out the threats made to [the soldier], he would be able to do it,” the letter said.

After trying to find Card on 15 September, the sheriff’s officer reported not being able to locate him, despite finding a jet ski and motorcycle registered to Card at what appeared to be his home. As a result, he issued a file 6 alert, which was sent to other agencies. “The alert included a warning that Mr. Card was known to be armed and dangerous and included details of his behavior,” according to Sheriff Merry. “The alert urged that officers use extreme caution.”

On 17 September, the officer spoke to Ryan Card, the brother of the suspect, confirming that Card was able to access Ryan’s guns. Those firearms were located in a gun safe, the report said.

Ryan Card apparently told the authorities that he was working with his father to get the guns moved elsewhere, adding that he would try to ensure that his brother didn’t possess any other guns.

The File 6 alert was cancelled on 18 October, Sheriff Merry wrote.

GoFundMe pages launched in honour of victims

Joshua Seal, 36, was a well-known American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and was hosting a community event for members of the deaf community at Schemengees Bar & Grille when the shooting unfolded.

Seal was the Director of Interpreting Services for the Pine Tree Society – an organisation which “provides Maine children and adults with disabilities the opportunities and the means to create better lives for themselves and their families.”

His wife, Elizabeth, confirmed his death in a post on Facebook calling him the “best father” to the couple’s four children.

“He was always there for them, lending an eye or a hand and going to their sporting/extracurricular activities. He always loved spending time with them, travelling, going for a day trip to the beach, or going camping for the weekend. Not only was he an amazing father, he was a wonderful husband, my best friend, and my soulmate,” Elizabeth wrote.

Seal’s mother, Michele, said her son was “the most selfless person you would ever meet.”

He is survived by his four children, aged 12, nine, seven and three, as well as his wife.