Worthy Christian News > US News > Newly Elected House Mike Johnson Asks For Prayers After Massive Maine Shooting

Newly Elected House Mike Johnson Asks For Prayers After Massive Maine Shooting

By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos

WASHINGTON/LEWISTON (Worthy News) – Newly elected U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged prayers for those suffering after a mass shooting in the U.S. state of Maine killed at least 18 people.

He spoke as a manhunt was underway for a suspect named as Robert Card, a 40-year-old firearms instructor, who allegedly opened fire at locations in Lewiston, the state’s second-largest city about 36 miles (58 kilometers) north of Portland.

Lewiston police identified the shooting areas as including Schemengees and Just-in-Time Recreation (previously known as Sparetime Recreation), a restaurant, and a bowling alley.

“This is a dark time in America,” Johnson said. “We have a lot of problems. We are really, really hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate in a time like this. That the evil can end, everyone wants this to end,” the Republican stressed.

His remarks came after President Joe Biden urged residents of the area where police still search for the suspect to follow instructions from law enforcement.

“For countless Americans who have survived gun violence and been traumatized by it, a shooting such as this reopens deep and painful wounds,” Biden said.

He added that he and First Lady Jill Biden pray for the victims’ families. Biden again called for the passage of a ban on so-called assault weapons and ordered flags at half-staff to honor the many victims.

Eighteen Killed

Eighteen people were killed and 13 were injured in the Wednesday night rampage, Maine Governor Janet Mills said at a news conference Thursday morning local time.

Earlier reports from law enforcement officials said as many as 22 people had died and dozens injured. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancies in the number of victims, but the situation remained volatile Thursday.

With the apparent gunman still at large, school districts canceled classes, and authorities warned residents in and around Lewiston to stay inside and lock their doors.

Investigators were expected to examine the motives that prompted Card to commit the mass shooting. Records showed he was a sergeant first class in the Army Reserve, for which Card enlisted in December 2002.

He had no combat deployments, and his military specialty is petroleum supply, the army said. However, Card did receive several awards, including a Humanitarian Service Medal, the records showed.

It remained unclear whether the shooting was related to the Israel-Hamas war, with several Western countries fearing copycat attacks after Hamas fighters killed 1,400 people in Israel. There have been several deadly attacks in France and Belgium in recent days.