The commission investigating Maine’s deadliest mass shooting released its final report, revealing that the Army Reserve and local police missed critical opportunities to intervene and seize weapons from Robert Card, the reservist responsible for the tragedy. According to the report, there were multiple chances for officials to act on warning signs exhibited by Card during his downward spiral. “These were missed opportunities that had fatal consequences,” said Dan Wathen, chair of the commission, during the release of the findings at Lewiston City Hall.
The Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause to use Maine’s yellow flag law to secure Card’s firearms in September 2023 but failed to take action. Leaders in Card’s Army Reserve Unit also ignored recommendations from his mental health providers to ensure weapons were removed from his home. They did not fully share the extent of his troubling behavior with the sheriff’s office. Attorney Ben Gideon, representing victims’ families, addressed the press alongside co-counsel Travis Brennan, emphasizing the emotional and irreplaceable losses endured due to these oversights.
Missed intervention points in Maine tragedy
Megan Vozzella, who lost her husband Stephen in the shooting, expressed her grief and demand for accountability using sign language. The report included poignant images, such as rain-soaked memorials by Schemengees Bar & Grille, photographs depicting the emotional toll at community vigils, and a photo from a Kittery gun shop showing changes like a new three-day waiting period for gun purchases.
The commission’s findings aim to catalyze change, with recommendations to improve communication between military and civilian authorities and enforce stricter gun control measures. Family members and community leaders hope the report will lead to meaningful reforms to prevent similar tragedies. The Lewiston shootings stand as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance and proactive measures in preventing mass violence.
The commission’s report is a critical step in understanding what went wrong and how to avoid similar failures in the future.
