The Lewiston mass shooting investigation commission heard emotional testimony from the family of Army reservist Robert Card, who was responsible for the shooting that killed 18 people. James Herling, Card’s brother-in-law, detailed the family’s struggles to get him help as his mental health declined. The legislature responded to the shooting by passing new gun laws, including amendments to the state’s “yellow flag” law. Card’s family tearfully apologized for the deadly rampage and expressed their deep sorrow for the victims, survivors, and their loved ones as well as the entire state of Maine.
An Army reservist with a history of mental health troubles, Card committed the deadliest shooting in Maine history by opening fire inside a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston in October. The commission investigating the mass shooting has been meeting for months and hearing testimony from various individuals, including police, victims, and their families, as well as Army reservists who served with Card. Prior to this testimony, Card’s family had kept a low profile, releasing a statement in March after an analysis of Card’s brain tissue showed evidence of traumatic brain injuries. The family expressed deep regret for the tragedy and expressed their wishes to undo what happened.
Relatives of Card had warned police about his increasing paranoia and their concerns about his access to guns. Other reservists also witnessed his mental health deterioration, with one stating that he believed Card was capable of committing a mass shooting. The commission found that law enforcement should have seized Card’s guns and placed him in protective custody based on these warnings, utilizing the existing yellow flag law. The family had agreed to remove Card’s guns but the commission stated that this was an abdication of law enforcement’s responsibility. The commission will issue a full report this summer after gathering all the necessary information.
Card, 40, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after an extensive search following the shooting. In response to the tragedy, the Maine legislature passed new gun laws, including criminalizing the transfer of guns to prohibited individuals, expanding funding for mental health crisis care, and strengthening the state’s yellow flag law. The family of Card expressed their anguish for the victims, survivors, and the entire community affected by the tragedy. The family also highlighted the efforts they made to get Card help as his mental health declined and the challenges they faced in doing so.
The investigation commission heard public testimony from Card’s family for the first time, with Herling revealing the family’s struggles in trying to get help for Card. The commission was also scheduled to hear from an official from the Army Reserve Psychological Health Program, but that appearance was postponed. The commission chair expressed gratitude to Card’s family for testifying and acknowledged the difficult position they were placed in. The commission issued an interim report in March, stating that law enforcement should have intervened sooner based on the warnings about Card’s mental state.
The tragic events surrounding the mass shooting in Lewiston have deeply affected the community and brought attention to issues surrounding mental health, gun laws, and law enforcement’s response to warnings about dangerous individuals. The family of Robert Card expressed their profound sorrow for the victims and their families and acknowledged the impact of the tragedy on the entire state of Maine. The investigation commission continues to gather information to provide a comprehensive report on the events leading up to the shooting and the response from various parties involved.
