LEWISTON, Maine – An Army reservist responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history expressed concerns over his mental state to New York State Police before he was hospitalized last summer. In police bodycam footage obtained by various media outlets, 40-year-old Robert Card detailed that fellow soldiers were worried because he was capable of doing something harmful. The release of this video followed new details from Maine State Police regarding the gunman’s cellphone, revealing a note he wrote just days before the shooting in Lewiston, where he expressed that he had “had enough” and warned he was “trained to hurt people.”
The shooter killed 18 people and wounded 13 in a bowling alley and a bar, sparking the largest manhunt in state history. He was found dead by suicide two days later. It was disclosed that prior to the shooting, family members had expressed concerns about the reservist’s deteriorating mental health and access to firearms, leading to the Army declaring him nondeployable and barring him from handling weapons. A fellow reservist also issued a warning, alerting an Army superior that the shooter was going to “snap and do a mass shooting.”
During the altercation before his hospitalization, the shooter appeared thinner than usual, causing alarm among his fellow reservists, who accompanied him to Keller Army Hospital for evaluation. New York State Police clarified that he was never in custody and stated that he spent two weeks at a psychiatric hospital.
In the midst of these warning signs, the Maine man expressed feelings of paranoia and being talked about behind his back to New York state police. These conversations centered around rumors about his sexuality and allegations of being a pedophile, both of which he vehemently denied. Furthermore, he acknowledged not being on any prescription medication.
The tragedy has raised questions about the handling of the shooter’s mental health issues by both the Army and law enforcement. However, this incident underscores the importance of identifying and addressing red flags related to deteriorating mental health before they escalate into devastating acts of violence. It also highlights the complexities and challenges of enforcing legal interventions to temporarily remove someone’s access to firearms during a psychiatric health crisis.
Sagadahoc County Sheriff Joel Merry expressed that he was never contacted by the Army or New York State Police at the time of the warning about the shooter possibly targeting the Saco armory, and was unaware of the body cam video until it was made public. The tragic events also serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced communication and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.