A state inquiry has found that both the US Army Reserve and Maine police missed chances to stop Robert Card, the man who carried out a deadly mass shooting in 2023. The independent report, released on Tuesday, shows that local officials were aware of Card’s mental health issues but failed to act on warnings or take away his guns.
Card, a US Army reservist, killed 18 people in a shooting at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston on October 25, 2023. He then led police on a three-day manhunt before being found dead. The report says that both the Army and police had opportunities to prevent the tragedy but did not act on them.
The Army Reserve knew Card was experiencing hallucinations and aggressive behavior but did not follow through on recommendations to remove his firearms. The report criticizes the Army Reserve leaders for not addressing the threat Card posed to the public. The Army Reserve has since taken action against three officers and is changing its mental health and leadership training programs.
The inquiry also reveals that state authorities had enough information to act against Card’s gun ownership by September 2023, but the Army Reserve’s lack of communication prevented police from taking necessary actions.
The report highlights missed chances to prevent the tragedy, including ignoring warnings from Card’s family and failure to follow up on psychiatric evaluations. Despite these issues, the report suggests that removing Card’s guns might not have prevented the shooting, but the missed opportunities could have changed the outcome.
BBC News has covered this story and reported on the detailed findings of the inquiry.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4yxq0046do