The Preventable Shooting in Lewiston Maine

 

Hi Everyone. I hope the day finds you in good spirits, and well. Today's crime story I want to dive into is the about the mass shooting that took place on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine USA. (This one touched me mostly because I was living just on the Canadian side of the border, at the time); so this story was frightening, considering a lot of Canadians cross the border to go shopping in Lewiston.

I am going to give you all a fair warning, as this may TRIGGER some people...

A man had walked into Just-in-Time Recreation bowling alley while a youth league event was happening. He opened fire on the innocent civilians there, including children. He left the Bowling Alley and proceeded to a restaurant called Schemengees Bar & Grille. 

The man, we now know is Robert Card, did manage to escape and a massive manhunt ensued as law enforcement officials gave the world a picture of him, identifying him as their suspect. His shooting spree killed 18 people, injuring another 13. The police were unable to find him until two days later when his body was found inside a tractor trailer (self-inflicted gun shot... suicide), near a recycling center in Lisbon, Maine. (He was recently working there.)

So you'd think the case would be closed and just a tragedy everyone would just have to accept and cope with, but there is more to this story than initially thought.

Local Law Enforcement/ Sheriff were given warnings that this was going to happen, a month before it became a reality. A coworker of Robert Card, had texted their supervisors saying, "I BELIEVE HE IS GOING TO SNAP AND DO A MASS SHOOTING!!!" Imagine... warning people that this was going to happen and no one takes you seriously. I cannot imagine the guilt the coworker feels, even though none of this lays on them!!!

The Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office have opened an investigation, per an initial interim report that was issued by an independent commission. These notes included statements from survivors, victims' families and several members of the United States Army Reserve.

THERE WERE RED FLAGS EVERYWHERE!!!

Before the tragedy that struck Lewiston, Maine, Robert Card was a member of the US Army Reserve. He worked as a Petroleum Supply Specialist. He raised quite a few flags, when someone suggested, "he was suffering from some sort of mental crisis, and had assaulted one of his friends; even threatening to shoot up Saco Armoury. After his threats were made known, he was under what they call a "Yellow Flag".

The "Yellow Flag" is a law that was created in 2020, allowing another person to report a fun owner who poses a threat, or has become a threat. LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) then can take the individual into PC, or force them to have a psych eval. If declared to be mentally in crisis from the doctors who are overseeing the individual, then there will be a court order made to remove the guns from this person; as well as the courts temporarily suspending their gun license.

Card's family became increasingly concerned with him, to the point that after he purchased a gun in May 2023, they informed police about their fears. Robert Card only exasperated the concerns when he because violent and pushed a coworker and barricaded himself in a motel room. These actions resulted in him placed into a psychiatric facility for two weeks. (This happened in July, 2023).

In August, the Army sent word that he may no longer be deployed and was banned from touching any weaponry while he was on active duty.... In September, a fellow Reservist told his military supervisor that Card's behaviour was "off" and was worried he would commit a mass shooting.

Through the hearing, we all learned that the Sargeant (Sgt.), who was working on this case had went on leave in the middle of September and no one assigned the case to anyone else. The Commission agreed unanimously that the ones who failed to take the firearms from Robert Card was law enforecement. They also openly admitted that they realize they missed some chances to find Robert Card after the tragedy.

So as it stands, the military is blaming Law Enforcement, and no one seems to really take accountability of the fact that this was completely preventable. My heart goes out to everyone who was and continues to be affected by this terrible tragic event. I hope one day, you all are able to find some peace and some sort of normalcy; although I don't think anything could go back to normal after such an event!!!

~Phoenix