Maine mass shooting suspect found dead, Scripps News confirms

Scripps News has confirmed that Robert Card, the suspect accused of carrying out mass shootings in Maine, was found dead.

Police in Maine said in a Friday press conference that Card was found in Lisbon, Maine.

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck said Card was found at 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time near the Androscoggin River in Lisbon Falls.

Card is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Shelter-in-place orders had been lifted in Maine earlier Friday. The new directive allowed people in the area to go about their business freely. Hunting restrictions that were enacted for Lewiston, Lisbon, Bowdoin and Monmouth were lifted Friday night.

Officials said another briefing would take place Saturday at 10 a.m. Eastern Time.

The search for Card was centered in an area along the Androscoggin River near Lisbon. High-tech equipment, including sonar, was brought in to help in the search. Divers were also assisting in the search near an area where a white Subaru belonging to Card had been found.

Sauschuck said Friday some areas were searched multiple times during the manhunt.

"Maine State Police have located the body of Robert Card in Lisbon. He is dead," Maine Governor Janet Mills said during the Friday conference. "Tonight the city of Lewiston, and the state of Maine, begin to move forward on what will be a long and difficult road to healing."

During the authorities' two days of searching, Scripps News learned that that an apparent suicide note was found, but details of that note have not been disclosed.  State and federal authorities, including the Coast Guard, had been trying to track down Card, an Army reservist, since Wednesday evening.

Authorities believe he carried out attacks that killed 18 people and injured 13 others, at least three critically.

Sauschuck said the first 911 about the shooting at the bowling alley came in at 6:56 p.m. Wednesday. A dispatched officer reportedly arrived four minutes later. However, Sauschuck said there were officers nearby who heard the dispatch call and responded even quicker.

The first call in response to the shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grill First came in at 7:08 p.m., Sauschuck said. He added that officers responded within five minutes.

SEE MORE: What we know about the victims of the Maine mass shootings

Card was a petroleum supply specialist in the Army Reserve. A spokesperson for the Army said Card was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, in Saco, Maine.

The Army said he enlisted in 2002 and had never been deployed to combat.

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