Last month in Maine, authorities missed vital signs and warnings about Robert Card, an Army reservist who later committed the worst mass shooting in the state’s history. These missed red flags have raised questions about what could have been done to prevent this tragedy.
Veiled Threats
Police across the state were alerted in mid-September about Card’s “veiled threats” against his base and fellow soldiers. Card remained elusive despite added patrols and a visit to his home.
Extra Patrols
Jack Clements, the police chief in Saco, explained, “We added extra patrols; we did that for about two weeks…The guy never showed up.”
A Single Welfare Check
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry was also informed about Card’s threats, and he sent an awareness alert to all law enforcement agencies after a welfare check to Card’s home yielded no results.
However, it remains uncertain whether there was any follow-up.
Two Weeks in a Mental Facility
In July, Card was committed to a mental health facility for two weeks after making threats during an Army reserve training exercise near West Point, New York.
A Tragic Event
Despite these warning signs, he opened fire in a Lewiston, Maine bowling alley, killing 18 people and injuring 13 more. After two days of searching for him, his body was found after taking his own life.
An Unware FBI
Surprisingly, the FBI claimed Card was not on their radar and had received no information about him.
They said their background check system “was not provided with or in possession of any information that would have prohibited Card from a lawful firearm purchase.”
A Yellow Flag Law
Maine does not have a red flag law. However, it does have a “yellow-flag” law that allows police to petition a judge to remove a person’s firearms if a medical practitioner deems them a threat.
Clements Defense
Saco Police Chief Clements defended his department’s response, noting that they received many alerts and took this one seriously, but it was seemingly “generic.”
Never Came in Contact
Clements also said, “Never came in contact with this guy, never received any phone calls from the reserve center saying, ‘Hey, we got somebody who was causing a problem,’” and “We never got anything.”
Unclear Actions
Card’s erratic behavior and threats during the training exercise in New York prompted a mental health evaluation lasting two weeks. However, what action the New York State Police took remains unclear.
A Significant Oversight
Jonathan Crisp, an army lawyer, explained that when soldiers are involuntarily committed to mental health facilities, it is a “reportable” event that should trigger an alert to the FBI.
The failure to report in this case suggests a significant oversight.
A History of Illness
Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck emphasized that Card had a history of mental illness but had never been involuntarily committed, highlighting the complexities of mental health issues and their potential link to violent behavior.
Madeira Weigh in
Jody Madeira, an Indiana University law professor focusing on gun laws, suggested that there were warning signs that should have been taken more seriously.
Slipping Through the Cracks
She noted that authorities from different states and the military can communicate and alert each other about potential threats. She said, “He slipped through the cracks,” but “There were warning signs.”
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The post “He Slipped Through the Cracks” and “There Were Warning Signs” Could Authorities Have Prevented Maine’s Worst Mass Shooting? first appeared on Wealthy Living.
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