AUGUSTA, Maine — The search for a gunman who killed 18 people in the deadliest shooting in state history has come under scrutiny, with Maine state police defending their actions while facing criticism for the delayed discovery of the shooter’s body.
The shooting on Oct. 25 at a bowling alley and a bar led to a two-day manhunt for the shooter, Robert Card, who died by suicide. Tens of thousands of Maine residents were ordered to shelter in their homes during the search.
State Police Chief Col. Bill Ross told an independent panel appointed by the governor that the shooting presented an “extremely challenging” situation due to its two separate locations and the intense search that followed. The panel is investigating the shooting to determine whether any changes are needed to prevent future mass shootings.
During the search, police decided not to immediately search the woods surrounding the abandoned car where Card was last seen due to concerns of a potential ambush, especially since Card, a former Army reservist, was believed to have military training and possibly night-vision capabilities.
Maj. Lucas Hare, who heads the state police operations division, defended the decision to delay the search, stating that sending officers into the woods at night without the ability to see would have been dangerous. Instead, they waited for a SWAT team.
Following dozens of leads and hoax calls, police ultimately found Card’s body in the back of a tractor-trailer in a business’ overflow parking lot during their third search of the area. The delay in finding Card sparked criticism of the police response.
In addition to the search delay, it was revealed that both police and the Army were warned about Card’s deteriorating mental health in the months leading up to the shooting. Relatives had expressed concerns about his access to guns, and a fellow Army reservist had warned of Card’s potential for a mass shooting.
The state’s chief medical examiner’s conclusion that Card “likely” died eight to 12 hours before the discovery of his body means that he remained alive during much of the search. State police are still trying to piece together Card’s movements after his vehicle was abandoned.
The commission investigating the shooting is also looking into whether anything could have been done under existing law to prevent the tragedy, as well as the need for changes to prevent future mass shootings.
As the investigation continues, the questions surrounding the search for the gunman and the warning signs leading up to the shooting highlight the complexities of addressing and preventing mass shootings. The outcome of the commission’s findings may have implications not only for Maine but also for efforts to prevent similar tragedies nationwide.