Missed Chances in Lewiston Shooting

An independent commission investigating the October 2023 shooting rampage in Lewiston, Maine, has concluded that both the local sheriff’s office and leaders of the gunman’s Army Reserve Unit failed to take necessary actions that could have potentially prevented the tragedy. The report, released on Tuesday, emphasizes that while Robert Card was ultimately responsible for the attack that resulted in 18 deaths and 13 injuries, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause to invoke Maine’s yellow flag law to secure Card’s firearms a month prior to the incident. The commission's findings echo an earlier interim report from March, which highlighted the sheriff’s office's failure to act on concerns regarding Card’s mental health and access to firearms. Victims’ families expressed profound disappointment upon learning that the shooting could have been prevented. Travis Brennan, an attorney representing the families, stated that the report's revelations would be deeply upsetting for those affected by the tragedy. The report details a series of incidents leading up to the shooting that indicated Card’s declining mental health, including multiple warnings from family members and a friend who reported Card’s threats to shoot up his Army Reserve facility. Despite these warnings, the sheriff’s office and Army Reserve leaders did not take adequate steps to mitigate the risks posed by Card, who had access to an assault rifle during the attack at a bowling alley and bar. Ultimately, the commission found that both the sheriff’s office and the Army Reserve unit had multiple opportunities to intervene and reduce the risk of the shooting, including the possibility of seeking an involuntary treatment order, which could have delayed Card’s access to firearms and provided crucial time for intervention.