AUGUSTA, Maine – An independent commission investigating the response to a mass shooting in Maine revealed that police acknowledged missed opportunities to end a manhunt for the shooter, leaving the community in lockdown and its residents terrified.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills and state Attorney General Aaron Frey organized the commission to review the events leading up to the shootings that took 18 lives at a bowling alley and a restaurant in Lewiston on Oct. 25. Testimony from officers with the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, as well as members of the Lewiston and Lisbon police departments, shed light on the aftermath of the tragedy.
The shooter’s body was found at a recycling facility in Lisbon two days after the shootings, with officials admitting that there was a potential opportunity to end the manhunt a day earlier. Officers failed to find anything during a cursory search at the recycling facility the day before the discovery of the body, as Lisbon Officer Renee Bernard told the panel.
Despite previous hearings focusing on encounters police had with the shooter before the killings, Thursday’s hearings centered more on the immediate aftermath. Both the Lewiston and Lisbon police departments were involved in the emergency response and subsequent manhunt.
Lawyers for the victims have also pointed to potential missed opportunities to prevent the shootings, with warnings about the shooter’s deteriorating mental health and potential for violence in the preceding weeks being flagged.
While speaking before the commission, police described the response to the shootings and search for the shooter as being made challenging by bad tips received during the investigation. They also acknowledged that this is a frequent occurrence during a major police search.
Amidst tearful family members of the shooting victims calling on the commission to prevent future tragedies, the governor announced a series of proposals aimed at preventing future gun tragedies, including background check boosts and improving mental crisis care.
The independent commission is expected to investigate and produce a written report in the coming months, shedding light on the potential missed opportunities and preventive measures for future tragedies.