Maine Police Alerted About Shooter's Threats Weeks in Advance
Maine police were alerted about "veiled threats" made by Robert Card, the U.S. Army reservist responsible for the worst mass shooting in the state's history, but failed to locate him or take further action. The threats were reported to law enforcement agencies in mid-September, but increased patrols and a visit to Card's home yielded no results. Card had a history of erratic behavior and had been committed to a mental health facility in July after making threats during a military training exercise. Despite these red flags, Card was not on the FBI's radar, and the instant background check system did not have any information to prohibit him from purchasing firearms. The case raises questions about the actions that could have been taken by the military, police, mental health professionals, and relatives to prevent the massacre.