An independent commission investigating the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, last year, says that the sheriff’s office had probable cause to take away the murderer’s guns prior to the shooting.
Robert Card gunned down 18 people in two locations on October 25, 2023, and wounded 13 others, as CrimeOnline reported. The shootings took place at Just-in-Time recreation and Schemengees Bar and Grille, Despite a hunt for the killer, Card’s body wasn’t located for two days at a spot that had already been searched in nearby Lisbon Falls.
The commission, appointed by Gov. Janet T. Mills, released its initial findings on Friday, WGME reported.
The report says that the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office had the opportunity to prevent the shooting in September 2023 and should have taken away Card’s murder weapons at that time under the state’s Yellow Flag Law.
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According to the report, Sgt. Aaron Skolfield was assigned to the case after the National Guard reported that Card “was suffering from some sort of mental health crisis, had recently assaulted a friend, had threatened to shoot up the Saco Armory and harm others, and was in possession of numerous firearms.” The commission says that Skofield made “limited attempts” to meet with Card face to face and did not seek help from prosecutors or other law enforcement.
Then, the report says, Skofield went on leave, and the sheriff’s office did not assign another deputy to follow up on the report about Card. Instead, the sheriff’s office arranged with Card’s well-connected family to take away his guns and then did not follow up to make sure that happened.
“The Commission unanimously finds that, under the circumstances known to Sgt. Skolfield on September 17, 2023,the decision to turn over the responsibility for removing Mr. Card’s firearms to Mr. Card’s family was an abdication of law enforcement’sresponsibility,” the commission said. “This decision shifted what is and was a law enforcement responsibility onto civilians who have neither the legal authority to begin the Yellow Flag process nor any legal authority to seize weapons.”
The commission said it’s next steps would be to hold additional public hearings and gather more information before releasing “a final comprehensive report, together with recommendations.”
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[Featured image: Robert Card/Lewiston Police Department]
