‘Several Opportunities’ Missed to Prevent Maine Mass Shooting Rampage, Commission Finds
Failure of Institutional Intervention
An independent commission focused on examining the devastating shooting massacre that took place in Lewiston, Maine, last October, revealed that several opportunities that could have prevented the incident were overlooked. The report detailed that the local sheriff’s office, as well as the leaders of the shooter’s, Robert Card, Army Reserve Unit had failed to take crucial steps that could have averted the disaster.
The commission’s extensive report indicated that the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office had sufficient reason under Maine’s yellow flag law to initiate the confiscation of the shooter’s firearms a month before the tragic event. Unfortunately, this action was not pursued, leading to dire consequences.
Lack of Information Sharing
The findings also highlight the failings of Card’s Army Reserve Unit, noting that leaders disregarded recommendations from Card’s mental health providers to secure the removal of weapons from his residence. The commanding officers also failed to consistently share complete information regarding Card’s troubling behavior with the sheriff’s office, which could have potentially altered their approach.
The Army Reserve conducted its own investigation into the matter and admitted errors made by unit leadership. It suggested administrative action against three officers in Card’s chain of command for neglect of duty, which has since been carried out. Changes to procedures, policies and updates to the Army Reserves’ psychological health program were also recommended.
Lessons to Be Learned
Although the report’s primary objective was not to suggest amendments to state laws or policy changes, it aimed to provide facts to the public, law enforcement, military leaders, and officials to make informed decisions and reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
Victims’ families, along with the community, now look forward to the execution of the lessons learned from this tragedy to prevent a recurrence. The final report is regarded as a crucial step in the Mainers’ healing process, as it sheds light on the facts surrounding the devastating events in Lewiston.
Preventive Measures Ignored
Despite Card’s evident signs of a mental health crisis within months leading up to the shooting, and repeated concerns voiced by his family members, the right actions were not taken. The report highlighted that there were multiple missed opportunities by both the Army Reserve Unit and the sheriff’s office to invoke the yellow flag law, which would have disarmed Card. With such steps unheeded, the massacre took place, leaving 18 people dead and 13 others severely injured.
Revisiting the Tragedy
In October last year, wielder of an assault rifle, Robert Card, embarked on a shooting rampage over two separate scenes—a bowling alley and a bar. Security camera analyses at the two venues revealed that Card fired 18 rounds in 45 seconds at the bowling alley and 36 rounds in 78 seconds at the bar, causing an immense amount of loss and injury.
Call for Change
In the wake of this disaster, a demand for strategic changes in laws, policies, and communication between institutions has been propagated. The failure to identify the warning signals and take appropriate steps has been labelled as a significant oversight by the authorities. Recognizing this deficiency, lawmakers, residents, and the law enforcement community now hope to press forward to make meaningful changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.
