PORTLAND, Maine – The chaos of a deadly shooting rampage on October 25th was captured in the emergency calls that flooded dispatch centers as a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar. The 911 transcripts, released on Monday, revealed the tense moments as dispatchers stayed on the phone with callers, providing reassurance and guidance as the situation unfolded.
The deadliest shooting in Maine’s history left 18 people dead and 13 wounded when Army reservist Robert Card II opened fire, prompting a massive manhunt and a lockdown for tens of thousands of residents. The shooter’s body was discovered two days later in nearby Lisbon, where an autopsy confirmed that he died by suicide.
An independent commission appointed by Gov. Janet Mills is investigating all aspects of the shootings, including concerns over why warning signs about Card’s deteriorating mental health were ignored. Prior to the shooting, Card had displayed concerning behavior that had been reported to law enforcement and his military unit. Despite these warning signs, laws aimed at removing guns from individuals who pose a threat were not invoked, and he was not placed on a list of “prohibited” people who are not allowed to have guns.
Fellow reservists had expressed concerns about Card’s mental state, with one even warning a superior in a text message that they believed he “he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting.” This further highlights the overlooked signs that could have prevented the tragic event.
The 911 transcripts also revealed frustration among dispatchers as they struggled to transfer calls, adding to the chaos of the unfolding situation. Deputies had visited Card’s home in Bowdoin twice about a month before the mass shootings but didn’t have legal authority to investigate further, adding to questions about the handling of the situation.
The investigation into the tragic shootings seeks to uncover the failures that allowed the gunman’s deteriorating mental health to go unaddressed, and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.