Newly released investigative files have revealed chilling details of Robert Card's deadly mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine.
The files lay bare key information about the horrifying attack that left 18 dead and 13 injured at a bowling alley and bar last October, as the Daily Mail reports.
Card, 40, embarked on a shooting rampage that shook the Lewiston community, leaving a trail of devastation at a local bowling alley and bar. Following the deadly attack, a grueling manhunt ensued, eventually ending two days later when Card's body was found in a trailer.
Among the 3,000 released files was a 50-word handwritten suicide note from Card, depicting his anguish. The note, now public, painted a picture of a man overwhelmed by personal despair and societal disconnection.
The FBI profile included in the release provided deeper insights into Card's state of mind, revealing that recent romantic turmoil may have influenced his actions. Card’s partner had ended their relationship, and she was supposed to be present at the bowling alley but was absent during the attack.
Officers involved in the search for Card recounted the harrowing experience of passing by dying victims who begged for help as they tried to track down the shooter. One such officer, Lewiston Officer Keith Caouette, expressed the gut-wrenching reality of the situation: “They grab at our legs and try to stop us and we can not help them.”
The scale of the response was unprecedented, involving 16 SWAT teams, officers from 14 different agencies, eight helicopters, additional airplanes, and an underwater recovery team. This comprehensive pursuit underscored the gravity of the situation and the community’s resolve to bring Card to justice.
Efforts to track Card included advanced methods such as mapping out the shooting scenes with lasers and scouring purchase records for burner phones, highlighting the complexity of the manhunt.
A state commission report from March criticized law enforcement for failing to implement Maine's "yellow flag" laws, which might have prevented Card, a clearly vulnerable individual, from possessing firearms. This failure has drawn scrutiny and debate over the effectiveness of current gun control measures.
By October 19, Card’s mental state had further deteriorated; he reportedly began hearing voices, as detailed by someone who saw him at a store where he was employed as a bread delivery driver. This concerning behavior was another red flag that went unaddressed.
The investigation faced obstacles, including pranksters who provided false leads and a person who impersonated Card on the social media platform TikTok. These disruptions diverted valuable resources and delayed crucial investigative steps. The case documents were made public on Friday, causing the hosting website to crash due to high traffic.
The tragic incident in Lewiston underscores the ongoing challenges of dealing with mass shootings and the importance of timely intervention in cases involving vulnerable individuals. The release of these documents provides a sobering look at the events and missteps leading up to the horrifying attack.
As new details continue to emerge, the community and authorities are left to reflect on what measures could have been taken to possibly prevent such a devastating event. The aftermath of Robert Card's rampage serves as a chilling reminder of the complex interplay of personal turmoil, societal issues, and law enforcement responses.
