Weekend Spree of Shootings Claims Lives and Injures Dozens in Multiple Cities
Multiple cities across the nation were struck by a wave of shootings at Halloween parties, leaving at least 8 people dead and dozens injured This devastating incident occurred just days after Maine was shaken by the deadliest mass shooting of the year, followed by a manhunt for the gunman
In the wake of Maine's deadliest mass shooting this year, the nation experienced a string of shootings during the Halloween weekend, resulting in the deaths of at least 8 people and injuring many others in various cities.
Following the devastating incident at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, where 18 people were killed and 13 others were wounded, an intense 48-hour manhunt for the shooter ensued. This search instilled fear throughout the area, leading to school closures and residents securing themselves behind locked doors. The gunman's body was eventually discovered inside a recycling facility box trailer on Friday.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 580 mass shootings recorded this year in the country, where four or more individuals, excluding the shooter, were shot. Over the weekend alone, eleven such shootings were recorded.
A Halloween party in Indianapolis, Indiana turned deadly as one person lost their life and nine others sustained injuries due to gunfire, as stated by local police. Similarly, in Tampa, Florida, a dispute between two groups escalated into gunfire shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday, while hundreds of people were leaving bars and nightclubs, authorities reported.
The shooting resulted in the death of two individuals and left 16 others injured, with ages ranging from 18 to 27, according to authorities. Tampa police have arrested and charged a 22-year-old suspect with second degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Law enforcement authorities have assembled on the road that leads to the residence of the individual being pursued in relation to two separate incidents of mass shootings. The events unfolded on October 26, 2023, in Bowdoin, Maine. The suspect in question is identified as Robert Card, a 40-year-old U.S. Army Reservist. He is sought for the fatal shootings of 18 individuals at both a bowling alley and a bar in the neighboring city of Lewiston the previous night. Additionally, at least 13 others sustained injuries during the shooting spree.
The police had been dispatched to the house of the Maine gunman weeks before the massacres due to concerns that he might experience a sudden outburst and carry out a mass shooting.
"Innumerable lives lost and countless others permanently altered. For what purpose?" expressed Tampa Mayor Jane Castor in a statement on X. "Impulsive bad choices and the widespread accessibility of firearms are to blame for these nearly daily occurrences."
At least 15 individuals were shot during a large Halloween party on Chicago's west side early Sunday morning, while over 1,000 miles to the north, a similar incident occurred, according to Chicago police. CNN affiliate WLS reported the incident, and responding officers witnessed someone firing shots into the location where the gathering was taking place. The perpetrator attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by law enforcement a short distance from the scene.
The weekend's gun violence adds to the ongoing problem of mass shootings in America. The Maine restaurant and bowling alley are now included in a growing list of locations where mass shootings have occurred this year, which includes a Nashville school, a Louisville bank, a California dance hall, and a Texas outlet mall.
According to a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and published in April, nearly 1 in 5 US adults have experienced the loss of a family member due to gun-related incidents, including homicides and suicides. The same survey also reveals that approximately the same number of adults have been personally threatened with a gun, and about 1 in 6 adults have witnessed someone being injured by gun violence.
Following the discovery of the deceased suspect in the mass shooting in Maine on Friday, President Joe Biden restated his plea for Congress to take action against gun violence.
"In this manner, Americans should not have to endure their existence," he expressed in the official statement. "I reiterate my appeal to the Republican members of Congress to uphold their duty in ensuring the safety of the American people. Until that moment arrives, I will exert all possible efforts to bring an end to this widespread problem of gun violence. The Lewiston community, along with all Americans, should settle for nothing less."
Tampa police officers stand in the street in the Ybor City of Tampa after a shooting Sunday.
Chris O'Meara/AP
Child loses both parents in shooting
Over the weekend, a tragic incident unfolded at a house party in San Antonio, resulting in the loss of both parents for a 13-year-old girl. Authorities reported that during an altercation, all three family members were shot. Upon responding to the call at approximately 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, the San Antonio Police Department found that a total of five individuals had been wounded in the shooting.
During a dispute at a party, a 20-year-old man brandished a firearm in the front yard. He proceeded to shoot a mother, father, and their 13-year-old daughter. In response, the father drew his own weapon and retaliated. Sadly, the father and mother, aged 40 and 35 respectively, were fatally wounded. However, the daughter sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was promptly transported to a hospital by San Antonio police.
Tampa Police Department Chief Bercaw provides an update on shooting in 1600 block of 7th Ave. early Sunday morning. Two subjects died. One person has been detained.
Tampa Police Department/X
22-year-old charged in Tampa shooting that killed 2 and injured 16
The initial shooter and his relative sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital, as stated by the police. On that very night, in Texarkana, Texas, an incident occurred at a party in the back room of a business, resulting in the death of three individuals and the injury of three others. The Texarkana Texas Police Department reported that this shooting took place after a "fist fight" erupted between two men.
One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while a woman and another man succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. Texarkana police stated in a news release that they were still investigating to establish the sequence of events and identify all individuals involved.
Investigation into Maine gunman
Authorities were searching for the Maine mass shooter in Durham Friday.
Matt Rourke/AP
Authorities are currently investigating the underlying motives behind the fatal incidents in Maine and conducting a thorough background check on Robert Card, the 40-year-old suspect.
According to authorities, the assailant initiated the attacks at Just-In-Time Recreation shortly before 7 p.m. on Wednesday, by indiscriminately shooting at the premises.
About 12 minutes following the initial calls from the bowling alley, several 911 calls were made to report a shooter at Schemengees Bar and Grille Restaurant, located approximately 4 miles away from the bowling alley.
People attend a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the Lewiston shootings on Saturday in Lisbon, Maine.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Grieving families in Maine are left with unanswered questions after the man accused of killing 18 people was found dead. Paramedics attended to the wounded while officers embarked on a two-day manhunt for the gunman. The search concluded when the body of the suspect, Card, was discovered in a box trailer in an overflow parking lot at the Maine Recycling Corporation in Lisbon. These details were shared by Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck during a news conference on Saturday.
Card had recently been fired from the recycling center, a law enforcement source told CNN.
Two firearms were found alongside Cards body, along with a note to his family, Sauschuck said.
During the press conference on Saturday, Sauschuck explained that the note to a loved one contained the passcode for his phone and bank account numbers. Although not explicitly a suicide note, its tone suggested that the individual would not be present and wanted to ensure that the loved one could access the phone and its contents. Law enforcement sources informed CNN on Friday that investigators are examining Card's social media presence to determine a motive and establish a timeline leading up to his death.
Further scrutiny is being given to a police visit to Cards' residence prior to the tragic mass shootings. Authorities affirm that Card, an Army reservist and certified firearms instructor, possessed comprehensive expertise in various areas such as land navigation and firearm handling.
According to information shared with CNN, the local police were contacted by the Maine National Guard to conduct a check on the gunman. This request was made after a soldier expressed concerns about the individual potentially "snapping and committing a mass shooting."
First row: Tricia Asselin, Peyton Brewer-Ross, Tommy Conrad, Michael Deslauriers II, and Bryan MacFarlane.
Second row: Arthur Strout, Joseph Walker, Joshua Seal, Maxx Hathaway, and Ron Morin.
Third row: Bill Young, Aaron Young, Stephen Vozzella, Bob Violette, William Bracket, Jason Adam Walker, Keith D. Macneir, and Lucille M. Violette.
Department of Public Safety in Maine.
According to documents obtained by a law enforcement source, officers from the Sagadahoc County and Kennebec County Sheriffs Offices responded to the man's residence on September 16, less than six weeks prior to the devastating mass shooting that occurred on Wednesday.
The responding officer received a letter from the National Guard indicating that a fellow guardsman expressed concerns about the reservist potentially engaging in a mass shooting. This information was included in the report related to the wellness check. This report was contributed by CNN's Raja Razek, Macie Goldfarb, Andy Rose, Shimon Prokupecz, Mark Morales, Linh Tran, Rachel Clarke, John Miller, and Deidre McPhillips.
