Maine authorities were apparently alerted last month to "veiled threats" made by Robert Card, the suspect in two mass shootings that resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people.
According to two local law enforcement officers, a "statewide awareness alert" was issued in mid-September, warning authorities to be on the lookout for Card after he allegedly threatened his base and other soldiers. A visit was subsequently made to Card's home, but he was not found.
"We added extra patrols, we did that for about two weeks... The guy never showed up," said Jack Clements, the police chief in Saco, where Card had received training at the local Army Reserve base.
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry, who has jurisdiction over Card's residence, stated that the Army Reserve had informed his department about Card's threats in September. He also mentioned that an awareness alert had been sent to every law enforcement agency in Maine after a deputy found nothing during the visit to Card's home. However, Card could not be located.
Military officials have declined to comment further on Card, particularly regarding whether the threats reported to the sheriff in September were the same ones he made during an Army reserve training exercise near West Point, New York, in July.
According to a police bulletin, Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023 after exhibiting erratic behavior and expressing intentions to "shoot up" a military base.
After several days on the run, Card was reportedly found dead by Maine police on Friday.
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