AUGUSTA, Maine – An independent commission investigating the response to a mass shooting in Maine revealed missed opportunities by police in their efforts to end a manhunt for the shooter. The mass shooting resulted in the deaths of 18 people at a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston on Oct. 25.
The commission, assembled by Maine Gov. Janet Mills and state Attorney General Aaron Frey, has been reviewing the events that led up to the tragic shootings. Testimonies from officers with the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, as well as members of the Lewiston and Lisbon police departments, have been heard by the commission. The shooter’s body was found at a recycling facility in Lisbon two days after the shootings, with police acknowledging a missed opportunity to end the manhunt a day earlier.
During the hearing, officers revealed that a cursory search at the recycling facility the day before the discovery turned up nothing. Meanwhile, hearings have also focused on the encounters police had with the shooter, as well as the immediate aftermath of the shootings.
Lawyers for the victims highlighted potential missed opportunities to prevent the shootings, citing warnings about the shooter’s deteriorating mental health and potential for violence. Police, while speaking before the commission, mentioned that the response to the shootings and search for the shooter were made challenging by inaccurate tips they received.
Family members of the shooting victims also made emotional pleas to the commission. They called for measures to ensure that others do not experience a similar fate. Meanwhile, Gov. Janet Mills has announced proposals aimed at preventing future gun tragedies, including boosting background checks for private sales of weapons and improving mental crisis care.
The commission aims to produce a written report in the coming months on potential missed opportunities to prevent the shootings. Additionally, they hope to hear from Army officials at a future hearing.