Missed opportunities in Lewiston shooting tragedy revealed

A commission investigating the shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, last October found that the local sheriff’s office and leaders of the shooter’s Army Reserve Unit missed opportunities that might have prevented the tragedy.

Robert Card was “solely responsible” for the shootings, which resulted in 18 deaths and 13 injuries across two locations. However, the commission’s final report indicated the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause in September 2023 to use Maine’s yellow flag law to begin the process of securing Card’s firearms, but they did not act.

The commission also found Card’s Army Reserve Unit leaders disregarded mental health providers’ recommendations to remove weapons from Card’s home. They failed to share comprehensive information about Card’s behaviour with the sheriff’s office, which could have altered their response.

“There were several missed opportunities that, if taken, might have altered the events,” the report stated, despite the possibility that Card might still have committed a mass shooting.

An Army Reserve investigation earlier this year identified errors by unit leadership, recommending administrative action against three officers for dereliction of duty. Changes to procedures and the psychological health program were also recommended.

Spokesperson Bryce Dubee confirmed the investigation found that even if Card’s command had asked him to store his weapons in a military facility, his commander had no authority to confiscate them if he refused.

Dubee expressed the Army Reserve’s condolences to the victims and their families.

Commission chairman Daniel Wathen expressed regret at a news conference, acknowledging while they cannot change the past, they can provide a factual account to help the public and policymakers make informed decisions.

The report aimed to bring clarity to the victims’ families and the people of Maine, assisting in the healing process and offering lessons to prevent future tragedies, Wathen stated.

Governor Janet Mills stressed the importance of understanding the facts surrounding the Lewiston tragedy for the community’s healing and expressed her intention to review the final report thoroughly.

The commission, granted subpoena power, interviewed witnesses, first responders, and victims, and reviewed extensive documentation over nine months, holding 16 public hearings.

Attorney Travis Brennan, representing the victims’ families, acknowledged the report would be upsetting, emphasising the families’ desire for the full facts and information.

A separate review by the US Army in July highlighted communication failures among Card’s military chain of command, civilian law enforcement, and medical providers, leading to punishment for three people in Card’s chain of command.

The commission’s findings reiterated an interim report from March, which noted the sheriff’s office’s failure to use the yellow flag law to disarm Card.

The yellow flag law, designed for individuals exhibiting signs of a mental health crisis, could have been applied to Card, who showed threatening behaviour. Instead, authorities relied on Card’s family to keep his guns away after failed attempts to communicate with him.

Card used an assault rifle in his rampage at a bowling alley and a bar on October 25, 2023, killing 18 people and injuring 13. The attack included deaf friends participating in a cornhole tournament at the bar.

Security camera footage revealed Card fired 18 rounds in 45 seconds at the bowling alley, killing eight and injuring three. At the bar, he fired 36 rounds in 78 seconds, killing ten and injuring ten.

A manhunt ended two days later when Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The governor and Attorney General Aaron Frey announced the independent commission’s review of the shooting, focusing on the events leading up to it, including Card’s declining mental health and his family’s repeated concerns over his well-being and access to firearms.

The report detailed numerous incidents illustrating Card’s deteriorating mental state and the ignored warnings from his family and mental health professionals. These ranged from May 2023 when Card’s son and ex-wife first alerted law enforcement about his behaviour, to Card’s hospitalization in July for “unspecified psychosis” and subsequent release.

In September, a friend reported Card had assaulted him and made threats, but no action was taken by his commanding officer. The sheriff’s office also made several unsuccessful attempts to contact Card in mid-September but did not follow up in October.

The report concluded that both the sheriff’s office and Army Reserve had multiple opportunities to reduce the risk of the tragedy. The sheriff’s office could have sought an involuntary treatment order or used the yellow flag law to disarm Card. The Army Reserve unit failed to follow up with Card after his hospitalisation or leverage available mental health resources.

Medical personnel in New York also missed an opportunity to file a petition under the SAFE Act, which could have led to the confiscation of Card’s firearms. The commission found that staff misunderstood the law, thinking it applied only to New York residents, although it requires filing in the individual’s county of residence.