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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Sheila Flynn,Andrea Blanco,Kelly Rissman and Ariana Baio

Lewiston Maine shooting: Police dubbed ‘utter clowns’ for response to attacks

AFP via Getty Images

Maine Governor confirms Lewiston shooting suspect found dead

The gunman who killed 18 and wounded 13 more in the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, believed locals were spreading conspiracies about him, according to newly-released court documents.

On Tuesday, Maine State Police and the Maine Department of Public Safety released affidavits, search warrants and other documents in the case.

Witnesses told law enforcement officials that Robert Card believed people were calling him a “paedophile” at the bowling alley and the bar where he opened fire last week, the documents show.

The revelations come as authorities continue to come under scrutiny for missing multiple chances to potentially stop the mass shooting.

Authorities said Card’s “concerned” family had alerted the local sheriff about his mental health – and that they were concerned he had access to firearms – in May this year. The Maine National Guard asked local police in September to check on the US Army reservist amid concerns he would “snap and commit a mass shooting”, according to CNN.

The Maine State Police has also been blasted by a local deputy as “utter clowns” for its response in the immediate aftermath to the mass shootings.

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