Arr, the lads of Maine state police be chattin' with the investigative panel 'bout that grand shootin' in Lewiston!
2024-02-15
Arr, ye scurvy dogs! A grand panel be gatherin' to listen to the tales o' the brave state police commanders. They be talkin' about how they handled the aftermath o' the bloodiest shootout Maine has ever seen, with 18 souls sent to Davy Jones' locker in Lewiston.
The panel investigating the deadliest shooting in Maine's history is set to hear from commanders with state police who led the law enforcement response after 18 people were gunned down at a bar and bowling alley in Lewiston. Testimony from the state police chief, Col. William Ross, and other members of the command staff and commanders of specialty teams could provide new insight into the attacks, the aftermath, and the search for the gunman.Tens of thousands of people were ordered to shelter in their homes as police converged on the shooting sites and searched for the Army reservist responsible, Robert Card. Card was quickly identified, and his abandoned vehicle was found, but he was not located until 48 hours later when he was found dead from suicide.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey established the independent commission to determine if anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy and if changes are needed to prevent future mass shootings. Both the police and the Army had been warned about Card's deteriorating mental health in the months leading up to the shooting.
Relatives of Card had warned police in May that he was sinking into paranoia and had expressed concern about his access to guns. In July, Card was hospitalized after an incident during training, and in August, the Army declared him nondeployable. In September, a fellow reservist warned that Card was going to "snap and do a mass shooting." Despite these warnings, local police were unable to intervene due to legal restrictions.
The deputy who visited Card's home received suggestions to let the situation "simmer" and was assured by Card's family that his access to guns was being removed. The commission is now seeking to obtain Card's military records to further investigate the case.