18 people killed in shooting in US
Listen to the story (South African accent)
Police are still looking for US Army reservist Robert Card. They think he’s the man who killed 18 people in a mass shooting in Maine, USA.
Police have asked people to stay inside their homes for safety because the suspect, Robert Card, is armed and dangerous.
On Thursday night, police went to a house in Bowdoin, Maine. The shooting was in a nearby town called Lewiston. They used a megaphone to tell the suspect to come out of the house, but he wasn’t there. After some hours, the police left the area. They said they were checking everywhere to find Card.
The shooting started at a bowling alley in Lewiston around 7:00 PM on Wednesday. One woman and six men were killed there. Shortly after, there was gunfire at a nearby restaurant called Schemengees Bar & Grille, where eight more men were fatally shot. Sixteen injured people went to local hospitals. Sadly, three of them later passed away.
People in Lewiston and three nearby towns were told to stay indoors. Schools and most local businesses are closed. Many people are staying at home, and the police are on the streets.
Card had reported mental health issues recently. He said he heard voices in his head and threatened to shoot up a military building in southern Maine. This summer, he was in a mental health hospital after acting strangely during military training.
The FBI are helping with the search. States near Maine and Canadian border officials are also on alert.
Vocabulary26 words
- Reservist
- someone who is part of the military but doesn't work there all the time. They help when needed.
- Mass shooting
- when someone hurts or kills four or more people with a gun in one place
- Suspect
- person who the police think might have done something wrong, but they are not sure yet
- Armed
- Carrying a weapon; with a gun or weapon
- Megaphone
- ?; a tool that makes your voice louder when someone talks through it
- Area
- a particular part of a place, piece of land, or country; A place or part of a place
- Bowling alley
- A place where people can play the game of bowling
- Gunfire
- the sound of guns being shot
- Fatally
- something that causes death;
- Shoot
- To fire a gun; when you use a gun to make bullets go out and hit something
- Injured
- hurt; wounded; harmed; to have damage to your body
- Local
- related to or connected to a specific/particular place; existing in or belonging to the area that you are talking about; part of or in the city or country you’re talking about
- Pass away
- to die; to stop living
- Indoors
- inside, not outside, not outdoors
- Report
- to tell other people about something; to share information; announce; explain
- Mental health
- the health or status of our emotions,thoughts, and feelings; the health or condition of our mind
- Health issue
- A problem with your body or mind
- Hear voices
- To hear sounds or people talking that are not really there; to listen to sounds or words from people in your head/mind
- Threaten
- express an intention to harm or cause trouble to someone or something; to say you will hurt someone
- Military
- armed forces; army; agency or department of a government for combat/war
- Act
- to do something or behave in a certain way
- Search
- To look for something or try to find information
- State
- A large area of land that has its own government (The USA has 50 states)
- Border
- the line that separates two countries; the edge or outside part of an area
- Official
- a person who works for the government or a government company and has power or authority; officer; executive
- On alert
- Ready to take action if needed; being ready and paying extra attention to what's happening
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Police are still _____ for US Army reservist Robert Card. They think he’s the _____ who killed 18 people in a mass _____ in Maine, USA.
Police have asked _____ to stay inside their homes for safety because the suspect, Robert Card, is _____ and dangerous.
On Thursday _____, police went to a house in Bowdoin, _____. The shooting was in a nearby town called Lewiston. They _____ a megaphone to tell the suspect to come out of the _____, but he wasn’t there. After some hours, the police _____ the area. They said they were checking _____ to find Card.
The shooting started at a _____ alley in Lewiston around 7:00 PM on Wednesday. _____ woman and six men were killed there. _____ after, there was gunfire at a nearby restaurant called Schemengees Bar & Grille, where _____ more men were fatally shot. Sixteen injured people went to local _____. Sadly, three of them later passed _____.
People in Lewiston and three nearby _____ were told to stay indoors. Schools and most local _____ are closed. Many people are staying at home, and the police are on the _____.
Card had _____ mental health issues recently. He said he heard _____ in his head and threatened to shoot up a military building in _____ Maine. This summer, he was in a mental health hospital after acting _____ during military training.
The FBI are helping with the _____. States near Maine and Canadian border officials are also on _____.
Discussion questions
- What do you think the police should do to find Robert Card?
- How do you think the people in the affected area are feeling right now?
- Do you think it's important for people to report mental health issues? Why or why not?
- What role do you think the media should play in covering mass shootings?
- In your opinion, should there be stricter rules about who can have guns? Why or why not?
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