President Biden and First Lady set to visit Maine to mourn with community after mass shooting

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and the First Lady will travel to Lewiston, Maine on Friday following the tragic shootings that left 18 people dead and several others injured.

On Friday the President and First Lady will pay respects to the victims of the horrific attack and “grieve with families and community members,” according to white house officials. President Biden will also meet with first responders, nurses, and others on the front lines of the response.

“Recovering from this attack will be long and difficult, and President Biden is committed to marshaling resources from across the federal government to support Lewiston every step of the way, the White House said in a statement released on Friday. “He will also continue to be relentless in doing everything in his power to stop the epidemic of gun violence tearing our communities apart and urging Congress to act on commonsense gun safety legislation.”

The alleged gunman, Robert Card, 40, was found dead of an apparent suicide after a dayslong manhunt that led officials to cancel school and order residents to stay indoors.

President Biden is expected to arrive in Lewiston around 3 p.m. on Friday.

Biden was alerted about the shooting as he hosted a White House state dinner honoring the bonds between the United States and Australia. He later stepped out of the event to speak by telephone with Maine Gov. Janet Mills and the state’s representatives in Congress.

In a written statement, the president decried the “senseless and tragic” shooting and urged Republicans in Congress to help pass legislation that would outlaw assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, enact universal background checks, require that guns be stored safely and end immunity from liability for gun manufacturers.

Biden also ordered that U.S. flags on public property be flown at half-staff through Monday out of respect for the victims.

“Since this tragedy took place, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, at the direction of the President, has been working closely with the Governor of Maine to support the community of Lewiston and every person who has been affected by this senseless act of violence. Last Sunday, the President sent WHOGVP Deputy Director Greg Jackson to Maine to support the community on the ground and directly coordinate federal resources, including expansive victim services provided by the FBI and Justice Department and the deployment of behavioral health and public health staff support from HHS. While on the ground, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention is helping connect local leaders and advocates with national non-profit organizations that support victims of gun violence, and the Office is working to ensure that government resources are available to support related community-led events.”

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Lewiston vigil: Mourners comfort one another at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul during Sunday's vigil. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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