Arrest Warrant For Maine Shooter Includes At Least 8 Murder Charges As Manhunt Is Called ‘Extremely High Risk’

Maine authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Robert Card, as police revealed Thursday that he will be charged with at least eight counts of murder for the mass shooting in Lewiston, ME, on Wednesday night.

At a news conference Thursday, police said they have identified eight deceased victims so far and are working to identify ten others.

“Our reality for today is that this suspect is still at large,” said Director of Public Safety Michael Sauschuck.

Former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi told MSNBC that the manhunt for Card and ultimate confrontation will be “extremely high risk” for officers.

“There has got to be a plan developed for when this individual is encountered. It will be extremely high risk. He will likely shoot it out,” Figliuzzi said, continuing:

And so, everything from how you have ballistic protection and shields, the state-of-the-art technology that allows you to know where he is inside the building that you’re approaching, and how that is done. That should be done by highly-trained tactical personnel. The FBI offers that, the state of Maine has that as well. They’ll partner together on a plan.

But, I have to tell you, in many “spree” cases, it’s the patrol officer who’s out there looking, who turns a corner, and sees something and is the first to encounter the subject. And in that case, again, should be a plan to call in additional resources. But that patrol officer may not have that kind of time.

President Joe Biden released a statement Thursday:

“Once again, our nation is in mourning. Today, Jill and I are praying for the Americans who’ve lost their lives, for those still in critical care, and for the families, survivors, and community members enduring shock and grief.” The statement continued:

I urge Republican lawmakers in Congress to fulfill their duty to protect the American people. Work with us to pass a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to enact universal background checks, to require safe storage of guns, and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers. This is the very least we owe every American who will now bear the scars — physical and mental — of this latest attack.

Watch the clip above via MSNBC.