Army Reserve and Local Law Enforcement Faulted for Failing to Prevent Mass Shooting

Lewiston, Maine - A report released on Tuesday by an independent commission investigating the mass shooting in Lewiston last October has highlighted the failures of both local law enforcement and Army Reserve leaders in preventing the tragic event. The commission, appointed by Governor Janet Mills, criticized the Army Reserve for disregarding warnings from mental health professionals and neglecting to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the community.

The report extensively detailed the shortcomings of Army Reserve commanders in handling the case of Robert R. Card II, the 40-year-old Army Reserve grenade instructor responsible for the shooting. Despite pleas from mental health clinicians to closely monitor Card's treatment and confiscate his weapons following a brief hospitalization in the summer, his commanders ignored their recommendations.

In particular, Captain Jeremy Reamer, one of Card's Army Reserve supervisors, was sharply rebuked for neglecting to follow any of the psychiatric clinician's advice. The report stated that he completely disregarded the recommendations, ultimately contributing to the tragic outcome.

On the night of October 25, 2023, Card used an assault rifle to kill 18 people and wound 13 others at a bowling alley and a popular bar frequented by cornhole players. After eluding authorities for two days, he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The commission, comprised of retired judges, a former federal prosecutor, and a forensic psychologist, conducted 16 public hearings over the past 10 months. Their focus was to understand why the interventions by law enforcement and Army officials failed as Card's behavior escalated into paranoia and erratic actions.

The final report highlighted the challenges faced by state and local law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of the shooting, causing moments of "utter chaos." As a result, the commission recommended a thorough review of the Maine State Police's response to the incident, with the aim of identifying areas for improvement.

Surprisingly, the commission did not provide its own recommendations for policy changes, which disappointed legal representatives of the victims' families. However, the families plan to file civil lawsuits, citing the massive failures in recognizing warning signs regarding the public threat posed by the gunman.

Speaking at a news conference outside Lewiston City Hall, Megan Vozzella, whose husband was among those killed, expressed hope that the findings of the commission would lead to systemic improvements, preventing future tragedies.

The commission's interim report, published in March, criticized the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Department for their failure to take Card into custody and confiscate his weapons before the shooting. The department conducted its own review last year, which contradicted the commission's findings and concluded that they lacked legal grounds to intervene.

Sheriff Joel Merry stated that he had not yet read the final report and would refrain from commenting until he had reviewed its contents.

During the commission's hearings, survivors of the shooting, relatives of the victims, and members of Card's own family testified, recounting their efforts to alert his Army Reserve superiors about his deteriorating mental state in the weeks leading up to the incident.

The shooting prompted renewed efforts to pass stricter gun laws in Maine, a state known for its hunting culture and lenient gun laws. Lawmakers have enacted several new gun-control measures this year, including a waiting period for private sales and revising the state's "yellow flag" law to streamline procedures for taking individuals into protective custody when exhibiting signs of dangerousness.

However, lawmakers did not vote on a proposed "red flag" law, which experts claim could have provided a clearer path for family members to seek the removal of weapons from relatives displaying signs of mental distress.

In response to the findings, the Army announced that it is implementing changes to its psychological health program for reservists. Bryce Dubee, an Army spokesman, affirmed their commitment to reviewing the report's recommendations and implementing measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The report shed light on Card's discharge from a civilian psychiatric hospital in New York. Despite exhibiting psychosis and homicidal thoughts with a detailed "hit list," a plan to commit Card involuntarily for treatment was dropped under questionable circumstances. The hospital filed a commitment petition but withdrew it after drafting a safety plan following a meeting with Card's mother.

Additionally, the report revealed that a psychiatric nurse practitioner at an Army hospital in West Point, New York, failed to file a petition under New York law to initiate the removal of Card's weapons due to a mistaken belief that the law only applied to New York residents.

The release of the commission's final report has brought attention to the failures of both local law enforcement and the Army Reserve in preventing the devastating mass shooting in Lewiston. As the community mourns and seeks justice, the hope is that these findings will spark necessary changes to prevent future tragedies and protect innocent lives.