Two months have passed since the devastating Maine shootings at the Just-In-Time bowling alley and Schemengees Bar & Grille, leaving many questions unanswered. The Boston Globe takes a closer look at the lingering inquiries surrounding the state’s deadliest mass shooting.
On October 25, eighteen people lost their lives, while thirteen others were injured in the two tragic incidents. Just two days later, the body of Army reservist Robert R. Card II was discovered, with his death being ruled as a suicide.
However, as we enter the new year, numerous uncertainties remain regarding the events that unfolded on that fateful October night. Records have surfaced, revealing concerns voiced by the US Army Reserve in September to a Maine sheriff about Card’s deteriorating mental health, with warnings that he may snap and commit a mass shooting.
Families and lawmakers are demanding to know why law enforcement did not take action based on this information, or why Maine’s yellow flag law was not invoked to restrict Card’s access to weapons, given that authorities had sufficient grounds to do so.
As the aftermath of the shootings continues to unfold, observers anxiously await the findings of an independent commission. They wonder if the federal government will delve further into the events and whether Card had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Here is what we still await in 2024:
In November, Maine Governor Janet T. Mills appointed seven experts to an independent commission tasked with investigating the Lewiston mass shootings, as well as the events preceding the rampage when authorities received warnings about the gunman’s declining mental health and threats to harm others.
The Maine attorney general’s office regularly updated a website with search warrants, affidavits, and court orders in the weeks following the shootings. These documents presented details such as Card’s criminal history, depositions given by his siblings concerning his mental state, and the type of vehicle he drove.
However, no new records have been uploaded to the site since November. According to spokesperson Shannon Moss, the state does not expect any new records to be available or posted until after the new year as the office focuses on gathering information for the investigative commission.
Governor Mills emphasized the importance of the commission’s independence and objectivity, instructing its members to prepare a report for public release. If additional funding is required, her office will request it from the Legislature.
Although the commission last convened on November 20 and planned to meet again on December 14, the meeting was postponed due to the members awaiting the receipt of key information from the state, as stated by commission chairman Dan Wathen. In November, Wathen expressed hope that a written report on the response leading up to the massacre would be ready within six months. Additionally, the commission unanimously requested subpoena power from the Maine Legislature.
Earlier this month, members of the Maine delegation traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with state congressional representatives and White House officials. Their purpose was to advocate for a federal investigation in light of the warning signs about the gunman prior to the shooting.
Following this visit, the Maine delegation echoed their demand by calling for the Department of the Army Inspector General to conduct an investigation. Although army officials assured them that an administrative inquiry would be conducted, the delegation requested a separate and more extensive investigation into the shootings.
In recent weeks, brain tissue from the Maine mass shooter was sent to Boston University’s CTE Center for further examination. The decision to test for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) stemmed from the combination of Card’s military experience and actions, according to Lindsey Chasteen, administrator of the chief medical examiner’s office.
In addition to the information released by Maine’s attorney general’s office, The Boston Globe has requested additional records that could shed light on the events leading up to the shootings. These include 911 calls from the Auburn Communications Center, tips received by the Maine State Police regarding the shooting, and customary information sought by journalists such as dispatch reports, case logs, photographs, and records concerning the gunman’s background.
The Globe has also reached out to agencies in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York, where the gunman had been hospitalized at a civilian mental health facility while training with his reserve unit.
While the investigation into the Maine shootings may be ongoing, it is clear that numerous parties are determined to uncover the truth and understand the factors that contributed to the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history. Families, lawmakers, and authorities alike hope that through continued efforts, they can prevent such tragedies in the future.
