Lewiston, Maine – The Army has disciplined three officers for their inaction and administrative failures leading up to the tragic shooting that took the lives of 18 people last year. A military reservist, Robert Card, was responsible for the mass shooting at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston on October 25, which left 13 others injured, making it the state’s worst act of mass violence. Card, aged 40, was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Following an investigation, the Army found no connection between Card’s violent actions and his military service. However, his military career has faced intense scrutiny since a soldier in his unit warned local authorities weeks prior to the shooting that Card might engage in a mass shooting. Card had reportedly experienced mental health issues, including hearing voices ridiculing him, which led to a brief hospitalization at a psychiatric facility months before the rampage.
The Army’s investigation delved into Card’s medical history and behavior preceding the killings to determine if military supervisors missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy. It was found that Card’s chain of command failed to report his threats of violence internally and did not understand their authority to gather protected medical information or handle privately owned weapons according to military regulations.
Despite indications of warning signs shown by Card months before the shooting, his Army supervisors did not act accordingly. In May 2023, family members alerted authorities about Card’s mental health condition and access to guns. Although the information reached Card’s military commanders, they did not prompt a discussion with him as required.
Furthermore, in July 2023, during a training period, Card exhibited distress and was sent to an Army hospital where he was later referred to a civilian psychiatric facility for further care. However, the hospital’s decision to discharge Card, despite mentioning homicidal thoughts, raised concerns about the effectiveness of the facility’s evaluation process.
Army investigators identified multiple communication failures between military and civilian hospitals treating Card, as well as with his chain of command, leading to a disruption in his continuity of care. These lapses left Card’s immediate supervisors unaware of the extent of his mental health concerns. The Army noted that greater vigilance from law enforcement and military leaders might have prevented the tragic shooting and subsequent suicide.