Special Commission Report: Army, Police Missed Chances to Stop Maine Shootings

LEWISTON, Maine — A special commission’s final report reveals that both the Army Reserves and local police missed critical opportunities to intervene and prevent the recent mass shootings in Maine, which claimed 18 lives and marked the deadliest incident of its kind in the state’s history.

The findings come from an independent commission convened by Governor Janet Mills. Over the course of its investigation, the commission held more than a dozen public meetings, reviewing thousands of pages of evidence and hearing testimonies from various witnesses.

According to the 215-page report released on Tuesday, both law enforcement and the Army Reserves failed in their duties. The report emphasized that police had the legal authority, under Maine’s yellow flag law, to confiscate the shooter’s guns and place him in protective custody weeks prior to the shooting events. Additionally, it criticized the Army Reserves for not providing adequate care and support for Robert Card, the 40-year-old reservist responsible for the attack.

At a press conference held in Lewiston City Hall, located less than three miles from where the tragedy occurred on October 25, 2023, commission chair Daniel Wathen paid respects to the victims. “None of us can begin to imagine the pain you people have experienced on that terrible day,” he stated, highlighting the tragic impact of the event on the community.

Wathen acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding whether the shooting could have been prevented with better action from law enforcement and military leaders. He noted, however, that there was considerable “utter chaos” as hundreds of police officers responded to the mass shooting, which complicated their efforts.

The commission’s investigations began shortly after the incident, where Card opened fire in a bowling alley and a bar. Following this tragedy, Card took his own life, adding further pain to the situation. Over nine months, the commission heard emotional testimonies from survivors, family members of the victims, law enforcement officials, and military personnel.

Public hearings revealed a mix of swift police response and ensuing disorder during the search for the shooter. During one hearing, Card’s sister shared her grief, resting her hand on his military helmet as she spoke. Kathleen Walker, whose husband was killed while attempting to confront Card, stated, “The system failed, and we can’t allow this to happen again.”

Many family members and fellow reservists provided accounts of Card displaying increasingly paranoid and delusional behavior in the months leading up to the shooting. Although the Army hospitalized Card during training in July 2023 due to psychiatric issues, there was a lack of follow-up on his care from his commanding officer, which contributed to the overall oversight.

The report also highlighted a warning from September, when a fellow reservist texted an Army supervisor expressing concern that Card “was going to snap and do a mass shooting.” Following the tragedy, Card was later found deceased, having taken his own life.

After the incident, Army officials began their own internal investigation. Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels stated that they identified “a series of failures by unit leadership.” As a result, three Army Reserve leaders faced disciplinary action for dereliction of duty, as the report detailed failures in communication both within the military chain of command and between military and civilian hospitals.

In response to the shooting, Maine’s legislature has enacted new gun laws, reflecting the state’s cultural connection to hunting and firearms. Among these changes is a three-day waiting period for gun purchases that just took effect this month.

Daniel Wathen, the commission chairman, has a background as a former chief justice in Maine’s highest court. The commission itself consisted of a diverse group of seven members, including two former federal prosecutors, two retired judges, the state’s former chief forensic psychologist, and a private psychiatrist serving as an executive in a psychiatric hospital.

Source: Associated Press