LEWISTON, Maine – Three months before carrying out a mass shooting that left 18 people dead in Lewiston, Maine, Robert Card, an Army reservist, made cryptic remarks to police during a welfare check. Body cam footage revealed that Card told police he was “capable” of doing “something” during the welfare check, which occurred as New York State troopers were enforcing a directive to bring Card to counseling services at a West Point Army facility. This was after members of his Army Reserve unit expressed concerns over his mental state.
The concerns over the 40-year-old Army reservist’s mental health came months before the tragic mass shooting that sparked a massive manhunt ending in Card’s suicide. The reservists, whose names and faces are redacted, detailed their years-long friendship with Card, which had become strained due to his poor mental state. Card expressed to officers that he’s been hearing people talking about him, spreading rumors that he’s gay and a pedophile. He had also been ordered to speak with a counselor at the Army hospital.
In the weeks leading up to the massacre, Card’s best friend had expressed fear that Card was “going to snap and do a mass shooting,” adding to the concerns about his mental state. After the shooting, Card fled and was found dead in an overflow parking lot at the Maine Recycling Corporation, having suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The motive for the massacre remains a mystery, with officials investigating Card’s extensive history of mental health issues. The tragic incident has raised questions about the response to mental health concerns and the need for better intervention and support for individuals at risk of harming themselves or others.
The incident has also shed light on the importance of addressing mental health concerns within the military and reserve units, as well as the potential warning signs that may precede such tragic events. As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the lasting impact of the event and the need for improved mental health support and resources are at the forefront of the conversation.