Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Issue Statement on Maine Shooting

Tragedy once again struck New Englanders on Wednesday evening when a fatal mass shooting claimed multiple lives in Lewiston, Maine.

FOXBORO — New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft expressed his condolences to the victims, families and all New Englanders affected by the fatal mass shooting which claimed the life of at least 16 people on Wednesday night in Maine.

The Lewiston community is about 150 miles north up the Atlantic coast from Foxboro.

"The senseless act of violence that unfolded last night in Lewiston, Maine has left all of us across New England in shock and mourning,” Kraft said via statement on behalf of the organization. “My heart goes out to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims, who are dealing with unimaginable pain and loss. 

“Let us remember the victims, honor their lives, and continue to fight hate and violence in order to prevent these horrific tragedies."

New England Patriots Statement on Lewiston Tragedy / Statement from Robert Kraft, via Patriots.com

The tragic events began to unfold Wednesday evening when a gunman opened fire at both a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston. He fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes.

Authorities have identified Robert Card, 40, as a “person of interest” with regard to the shooting. At the time of Kraft’s statement, Card had yet to be found and was considered both at large, and dangerous. 

Unfortunately, New Englanders are no strangers to such catastrophic events. A deadly mass shooting took place in December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, when 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people, most of which were between the ages of 7 and 8. Less than one year later, two homemade pressure cooker bombs were detonated near the finish line of the annual Boston Marathon race. Three people were killed and hundreds injured, including 17 who lost limbs.

The Patriots will remain in New England until Saturday, when they are scheduled to travel to Miami for their Week 8 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. 

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