An independent commission report revealed by the Boston Globe holds the police and the Maine Army National Guard responsible for failing to prevent the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history in 2023, which resulted in 18 deaths.

The commission found that both the Army Reserve and Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office share responsibility for failing to address the problematic behavior of Robert Card, the mass shooter in Lewiston, Maine.

Lawyer Ben Gideon described the incident as a concerning intersection of mental illness and gun ownership, emphasizing Card's diagnosed psychosis alongside his extensive arsenal of firearms.

Card exhibited troubling behavior months before the shooting, including delusions and paranoia, and was hospitalized in July 2023, but follow-up care was inadequately monitored by his commanding officer.

An interim report highlighted that law enforcement should have confiscated the shooter's firearms and detained him weeks prior to the incident.

The commission found that law enforcement had probable cause to take Card into protective custody under Maine’s yellow flag law in September 2023, but failed to act.

Maine's yellow flag law allows individuals to report gun owners they perceive as threats, prompting law enforcement to take action.

The investigation praised the law enforcement response, which led to the discovery of Card's body within 49 hours without further casualties.

Families of victims are dissatisfied with the conflicting conclusions from various investigations and are calling for a broader inquiry by the Department of Defense's Inspector General.

The commission was established by Governor Janet Mills shortly after Army reservist Robert Card committed the shooting and subsequently took his own life.

The Army reserve unit did not adequately address Card's threatening behavior, including auditory hallucinations and aggressive actions, nor did they share critical information with law enforcement.

The report emphasizes that the authorities had multiple chances to intervene and prevent the tragedy.