LEWISTON, Maine — A special commission’s final report indicated that missed opportunities by the Army Reserve and police to intervene in a gunman’s psychiatric crisis contributed to the deadliest shootings in Maine, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people. The report, released Tuesday, stated that there were chances under Maine’s yellow flag law to seize Robert Card’s weapons before the attacks, but the authorities didn’t take action.
The 215-page report also blamed the Army Reserve for not doing enough to address Card’s mental health and weapons possession. It pointed out that New York’s red flag law was not utilized to seize the gunman’s weapons when he was hospitalized the previous summer. The independent commission, formed by Gov. Janet Mills, delivered its conclusions in Lewiston City Hall, near where the shootings occurred in October 2023.
The governor emphasized the importance of understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to aid in the healing process for the community. While the commission’s report did not reveal major surprises, it highlighted underlying issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
One of the bereaved individuals, Megan Vozzella, expressed her desire for accountability for those who did not act to prevent the shootings. The lawyer for Vozzella and other victims’ relatives described the incident as a result of a dangerous combination of gun ownership, mental illness, and missed intervention opportunities.
The report detailed how Card, a reservist, had displayed paranoid and delusional behavior before the shootings. Although he had been hospitalized in New York for psychiatric evaluation, no follow-up care was ensured upon his return home. The commission also addressed New York’s red flag law and the failures in Card’s treatment and monitoring by the Army Reserve.
Following the tragedy, Maine implemented new gun laws, including a three-day waiting period for gun purchases. The commission’s chair emphasized the importance of using the report’s findings to make necessary changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
