An independent commission has argued that law enforcement had probable cause to take gunman Robert Card into custody a month before the devastating mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
The Independent Commission into the Facts of the Lewiston Tragedy, which investigated the circumstances that led to the Oct. 25 mass killing, argues that law enforcement had all the information they needed to act but were unable to do so. There is.
“The Commission finds that in September 2023, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) had sufficient probable cause to place Robert Card, Jr. into protective custody and remove the firearm under Maine’s Yellow Flag Law. We agree that there was, and SCSO should probably believe that Mr. Card was capable of serious harm.”
18 people killed in Lewiston shooting; search underway for suspect Robert Card
A rain-soaked memorial to the victims stands on the roadside near Skimenzie’s Bar & Grill in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
The commission determined that the cards were visited multiple times by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office and that sufficient evidence was found to utilize the state’s “yellow flag” law.
In addition to his mental health issues, U.S. Army officials and law enforcement were aware of several concerning factors in Card’s behavior by September 2023.
Mr. Card was known to possess at least 10 guns and had threatened his immediate superior, assaulted a friend, and threatened to shoot up a military armory in Saco, Maine.
Maine’s unique “yellow flag” law allows people close to a person suspected of a violent conspiracy to report concerns to law enforcement. Police can then take the person into protective custody and request a mental health evaluation.
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Robert Card, the man responsible for the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, last year. (Maine Department of Public Safety)
If the person is found to be mentally unstable, their license and gun may be confiscated until the circumstances change.
The commission’s report said multiple people close to Mr. Card raised concerns with authorities that the Army reservist, who had severe mental health issues, was becoming dangerous.
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“The commission finds that protecting Mr. Card required the officers to have ‘face-to-face’ contact with him,” the report said. “We also recognize that the process may not have been without difficulty and potential risks. However, the known information does not justify placing Mr Card in protective custody. I did.” […] And a plan should have been made to intervene and protect Mr. Card. ”
Card opened fire at two locations, a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, killing 18 people and injuring 13 others.
After a two-day search, the gunman was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
“The Commission will continue to pursue the facts of this case and gather all the information necessary to uncover what happened before, during, and after the tragic shooting on October 25, 2023. “We plan to conduct additional public hearings to gather additional testimony, materials, and reports,” the committee said in its report.
“Once the investigation is complete, a final comprehensive report with recommendations will be published and published on the commission’s website. Further work is required and it will surely be delivered. Their families, and the people of Maine, should not be held responsible for anything.” “
