Questions Remain After Spree Shooter Leaves 18 Dead in Maine

After 40-year old Richard Card was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after his shooting rampage left 18 dead and 13 more injured, questions over his motives, mental health, and access to firearms have continued to mount.

Card, an Army reservist, had been held in a hospital for psychiatric care in July of this year after behaving erratically while training at West Point. Card had told others he had been hearing voices and was disturbed by their content.

Card was released in August from the hospital. He had tried to purchase a firearm suppressor, the purchase of which was initially approved but later denied after Card admitted on his form that he had previously been committed to a mental institution.

The next month, Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office launched a search for him after someone from his Army unit reported that he feared Card was dangerous and could even commit a mass shooting. The sheriff’s office called off the search in October.

On October 25, Card opened fire at a Lewiston, Maine bowling range, killing 7. He later opened fire at a bar, killing 11. After a statewide manhunt and residents being urged to shelter in place, his body was found on October 27.

 

Shooting in Toronto Leaves 2 Dead, 13 Injured

A shooter in Toronto, Canada shot 15 people, leaving 2 dead and 13 injured before police killed him in an exchange of gunfire. The shooting took place 10 PM local time on Sunday. The shooter, who has not been identified personally but has been identified as a 29 year old male, opened fire at a plaza and was claimed by a witness to have shot around 30 shots before police were able to intercept him. Toronto Mayor John Tory called the shooting “despicable” and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his support for the victims and the city.

Toronto has experienced incidents of violence in the past. Back in April, a man committed a van attack, which killed 10 people and injured 16 more. The perpetrator, 24 year old Alek Minassian, was arrested and is still awaiting trial. His motives remain unclear, though a Facebook post mentioning that he was part of the “incel rebellion,” the first word meaning someone who has been unable to lose his virginity, may give clues. If this were his motive, it hearkens back to the 2014 shooting spree in California by Elliot Rodger, who expressed similar frustrations in his over 100 page long manifesto.

Shooting at Maryland Newspaper Leaves Five Dead

A shooting at an Annapolis-area newspaper, Capital Gazette, left five dead and two more injured. The suspect, Jarrod Ramos, is believed to have had a long-running dispute with the newspaper over their coverage of a stalking case in which he was a suspect. Ramos had sued the paper, but had lost the case. Ramos had continually threatened the newspaper since the feud began in 2011. Ramos is currently being held on five charges of first degree murder.

The five killed were Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.