Chaos reigned in the early hours of the Lewiston manhunt, according to Maine State Police Colonel William Ross. Leaks of critical information and officers arriving on their own authority created frustration and hampered the search for the shooter.
“The first few hours are incredibly chaotic,” Ross explained at the 12th hearing of the Lewiston Mass Shooting Independent Commission. This October 25th, 2023 tragedy left 18 Mainers dead and 13 injured.
Leaks of sensitive information, like a law enforcement bulletin detailing the shooter’s background, were a major setback, Ross said. “This information ended up on social media very early on, posted by someone outside law enforcement,” he stated. “This is a serious problem because if it happens once, it can happen again.”
Unfortunately, it did happen again. The next day, news leaked that a note had been found during a search of the shooter’s home. Police feared this leak could jeopardize the investigation and endanger officers as they hadn’t yet located the suspect.
The sources of both leaks remain unidentified, but state police acknowledge these incidents are not uncommon in high-profile cases. “These leaks are frustrating,” Ross admitted, “but unfortunately, they happen in these situations. There are just too many people involved.”
Another complication arose from officers from various agencies across the state arriving at the scene on their own initiative. “There were instances where I’d deploy resources, and upon arrival, they’d find a group of police already present,” said Sergeant Greg Roy, Commander of the Maine State Police tactical team.
While this caused initial confusion, state police clarified the command structure for all responding agencies. Ultimately, they expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support from officers eager to help. “As time passed, this self-dispatching became less frequent,” Ross noted. “In the end, when the call came, most officers responded appropriately.”
This hearing comes two months after the Commission released an interim report focusing on how local law enforcement and the U.S. Army Reserves might have better addressed warning signs related to the shooter’s mental health decline. Since then, the Commission has heard testimonies from the shooter’s family, the Army, and Maine’s former chief medical examiner.
The Commission expects to hold additional hearings in the coming weeks to complete its investigation and finalize its report.
