WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to visit Maine later this week to express his condolences to the community of Lewiston following the tragic incident where 18 lives were lost, making it the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history, as announced by the White House on Wednesday.
On October 25, a bar and a bowling alley became the sites of the shootings, leaving thirteen individuals injured.
Accompanied by first lady , President Biden will visit Lewiston on Friday to pay homage to the victims, meet with first responders and other members of the community, while also sharing in their grief, as stated in a White House press release.
The alleged gunman, 40-year-old Robert Card, was found dead from an apparent suicide following an extensive manhunt that prompted school closures and orders for residents to remain indoors.
While the motive remains elusive, investigators are increasingly focusing on the mental health of Card, who had experience as a firearms instructor.
Authorities revealed that Card’s family had raised concerns about his deteriorating mental health with the local sheriff five months prior to the tragic incident. Additionally, Card had undergone a mental health evaluation due to erratic behavior at a training facility last summer.
Vigils for the victims drew several thousand attendees over the weekend, and the affected community has begun returning to work and school since the stay-at-home orders were lifted on Monday.
President Biden was notified of the shooting while hosting a White House state dinner honoring the close ties between the United States and Australia. He subsequently stepped out of the event to engage in phone conversations with Maine Governor Janet Mills and the state’s congressional representatives.
In a written statement, President Biden condemned the “senseless and tragic” shooting and called on Republicans in Congress to support legislation that would ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, implement universal background checks, enforce safe storage of firearms, and eliminate liability immunity for gun manufacturers.
Biden also ordered that U.S. flags on public property be flown at half-staff until Monday, as a mark of respect for the victims.
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Associated Press Writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.
