The Conclusion of Investigation into the Deadliest Shooting in Maine History

After months of public meetings, witness testimonies, and extensive evidence review, a special commission formed to investigate the deadliest shooting in Maine history is preparing to release its final report on Tuesday. The shooting, which occurred on Oct. 25, claimed the lives of 18 individuals at a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston, perpetuated by an Army reservist.

Throughout the nine-month investigation, emotional accounts were shared by family members, survivors, law enforcement officials, U.S. Army Reserves personnel, and others. The commission, appointed by Gov. Janet Mills, will unveil the full report at a news conference held at Lewiston City Hall, near the sites of the tragic events.

The interim report from March hinted at law enforcement lapses that may have prevented the tragedy, suggesting that the shooter’s guns should have been confiscated and he should have been placed in protective custody prior to the incident.

The public hearings of the commission shed light on the immediate police response to the shootings, the ensuing chaos during the manhunt for the suspect, and the missed opportunities that could have averted the massacre. Testimonies portrayed the shooter, Robert Card, as a troubled individual with warning signs of his deteriorating mental health prior to the shooting.

The commission’s findings also uncovered failures within the Army Reserves leadership and communication breakdowns that allowed such a tragic event to occur. As a result, new gun laws were implemented in Maine, including a mandatory three-day waiting period for gun purchases.

Chaired by Daniel Wathen, a former chief justice of Maine’s highest court, the commission comprises a team of experts from various fields, dedicated to unraveling the complexities surrounding this heinous crime. As the final report is set to be released, the nation awaits the revelations that may prevent similar tragedies in the future.