SAGADAHOC COUNTY, MAINE: The Maine Police is receiving immense flak after a CNN report revealed that Maine police had an idea prior that the suspect Robert Card would “snap and commit a mass shooting.”
It has been revealed that previously the Maine National Guard requested the local police to check Card who was an Army reservist.
A law enforcement source informed the news outlet that following the intimation, deputies from the Sagadahoc County and Kennebec County Sheriff’s Offices unsuccessfully tried to contact the 40-year-old on September 16.
Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office’s responding sergeant, however, received disturbing information regarding the mass murder suspect who was found dead two days later after allegedly carrying out the mass shooting in a Lewiston bowling alley and bar.
The officer came to know that “when [he] answers the door at his trailer, in the past he usually does so with a handgun in hand out of view from the person outside,” per CNN.
A source having access to the reports of the welfare check informed the news outlet that the responding officer also learned later that a fellow guardsman of Card “is concerned that [the reservist] is going to snap and commit a mass shooting.”
While Maine has a system of “yellow flag” that can evaluate an individual’s capability to gain access to firearms, CNN puts forward the question of whether any strong step was indeed taken to restrict the shooter’s access to weapons.
The outlet also reported that Card’s case was closed on October 1, 2023, 24 days before the rampage that took the lives of 18 people and injured several others.
When the State Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck was asked about the extent of information they had about Card, he replied “I won’t answer,” before continuing, “Based on what I’ve seen, we’re going to continue to work through that.”
A spokesperson for the state police said to the outlet, “The Department of Public Safety (DPS) nor the Maine State Police requested a teletype on Robert Card prior to October 26.”
She continued, “It should also be noted that no bulletins or assistance was requested from MSP’s Maine information and analysis center. DPS has no regulatory authority over law-enforcement agencies in Maine.”
Internet blasts Maine police for not heeding warning signs
Following the CNN report, netizens poured their anger on social media while condemning the police.
One of the fans said, "So he was already on their radar and it happened anyway? SMH."
"And the police still allowed him to own a gun after they suspected and went to his home. And now 18 innocent people were shot . So pathetic," said someone else.
Another social media user remarked, "Another tragic incident that could have been prevented. It's disheartening to hear that concerns were raised about the gunman's potential for violence, yet action wasn't taken. We need to prioritize early intervention and support for individuals showing signs of danger."
"When we will look at the system as much as we look at the tool," said another concerned citizen.
"Measures seemed not have been taking to stop this," concluded another enraged netizen.
Robert Card’s family said they could help in securing weapons
After being unsuccessful in contacting Card, the Sagadahoc and Kennebec deputies contacted his family.
Card’s unit commander told one of the responding officers that Card did not have any of the National Guard’s weapons as Card’s brother had made arrangements to retrieve his firearms.
Card was also suspected of having personal weapons at this time besides the ones issued by the military.
The Sagadahoc officer later spoke with his brother who said that if Card answered his door that would mean he could be armed.
CNN quoted the welfare report where it was written by an officer, “I was later contacted by [the brother,] he told me that between him and his father they would work to ensure that [the man] does not have access to any firearms. They have a way to secure his weapons.”
