Authorities failed to intervene before Maine mass shootings, report finds

Zoom in: The independent commission created to investigate the incident reaffirmed its earlier finding that while Robert Card is "solely responsible" for the tragedies, "there were several opportunities that, if taken, might have changed the course of events," per the 215-page report.

• Under Maine's yellow flag law, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office had sufficient probable cause to take Card into protective custody and to confiscate his firearms, the commission determined.
• The report states that leaders of his Army Reserve unit "failed to undertake necessary steps to reduce the threat he posed to the public," despise being aware of his hallucinations, increasingly aggressive behavior, collection of guns and comments about his intentions.
• They also ignored the strong recommendations of his Army mental health providers to stay involved in his care and remove weapons from his home, the commission found.

What they're saying: "Our ability to heal — as a people and as a state — is predicated on the ability to know and understand, to the greatest extent possible, the facts and circumstances surrounding the tragedy in Lewiston," Gov. Janet Mills, who created the commission, said in a statement.

• "The release of the independent commission's final report marks another step forward on that long road to healing," she added.

Context: The suspect was found dead days after the Oct. 27 shootings with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, concluding a two-day manhunt that left local communities on lockdown.

• The victims ranged from 14 to 76 years old.

Go deeper:

• "18 precious souls stolen": Biden honors Maine mass shooting victims
• Maine victims included people who tried to stop shooter, families say
• Maine suspect found dead after deadliest U.S. shooting of 2023