(USNewsBreak.com) – Robert Card was suspected of carrying out the worst mass shooting in Maine in October 2023. The 40-year-old, a US Army reservist, reportedly killed 18 people and injured 13 more when he opened fire in a bowling alley and then a restaurant. The shooting sparked a massive manhunt for the suspect. Authorities found him two days later, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Now, nearly a year later, an investigation has uncovered multiple failures that might have prevented the tragedy.
Army Reserve Investigation
Immediately following the shooting and death of the suspect, the Army Reserve began investigating his history, looking for any motives or type of warning signs. The redacted report revealed “multiple communication failures” along the way with his chain of command and the various hospitals where he sought treatment.
For example, in August 2023, a hospital discharged him and determined he was at a “very low risk” of harming others or himself. Yet, his records indicated he spoke of having a “hit list” and suffered from “homicidal ideations.” He even reportedly bragged about a weapon he owned that could kill 100 people and spoke with a healthcare provider about quitting his job before he murdered someone.
Army Officers Disciplined
The Army Reserve has punished three officers in the suspect’s chain of command for “dereliction of duty.” Speaking with reporters, Lieutenant General Jody Daniels said that they had failed to follow established procedures and didn’t follow up with the hospital or initiate an investigation into Card’s mental health when he entered the facility in July 2023.
One of Card’s friends warned the commanding officers that Card could potentially snap, and his superiors notified the local police. They also took him off active-duty status while he was in the hospital, effectively denying him access to further care. His discharge tied their hands because he was beyond the scope of Army rules.
Additionally, there were more warning signs. For example, in early 2023, the suspect’s ex-wife and son spoke with the police about his erratic behavior after his hearing deteriorated. He also reportedly attempted to attack another reservist, resulting in his hospital admission.
Maine’s Democratic Governor Janet Mills has established an independent commission to investigate the shooting. It should issue the results later this summer, per The Associated Press. However, the interim report stated that law enforcement had the authority to seize Card’s weapons under the state’s Red Flag law.
Lawmakers in the state are working to craft legislation that would give the military full access to the intervention programs in Maine without infringing on Second Amendment rights.
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