The U.S. Army this week released findings from an investigation into an October 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, involving Army reservist Robert Card.
The investigation, initiated in the aftermath of the incident, during which Card killed 18 people and wounded 13 more at a bowling alley and nearby restaurant, aimed to understand the contributing factors and circumstances surrounding the events, according to the report released on July 23.
Two days after a massive manhunt, Mr. Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At the time of the shooting, Mr. Card was not on duty nor under the direct control of the U.S. Army but was a reservist civilian with the rank of sergeant first class.
The investigation team, consisting of a senior military intelligence officer, a judge advocate, a nurse, and a criminal investigation division agent, conducted interviews with 43 witnesses and gathered over 3,300 pages of exhibits, according to a summary released alongside the report.
Mr. Card enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in December 2002 as a Petroleum Supply Specialist, and for nearly a decade, he served as a combat weapons trainer at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Despite a seemingly stable military career, the report found that Mr. Card began to exhibit severe emotional and behavioral health challenges in the fall of 2022, including auditory hallucinations and interpersonal conflicts.
Mr. Card reportedly experienced a further decline in mental health starting in January 2023, around the time he received new hearing aids. He began hearing voices and believed people, including friends and coworkers, ridiculed him.
His family reported several alarming incidents to authorities, noting he had multiple firearms, according to the report.
Mr. Card attended mandatory military training in June 2023, appearing normal, but his condition worsened during the July annual training.
Within 24 hours of reporting for duty in July, Mr. Card demonstrated signs of severe mental instability and was subsequently ordered to undergo a behavioral health evaluation.
Unit members reported that Mr. Card had been drunk and threatening the previous night as officials returned to the base and met with him.
When interviewed by the New York State Police, Mr. Card expressed frustration about others talking behind his back and indicated he was “capable” of acting on threats, though he denied any intention to harm himself or others, the report stated.
Consequently, Mr. Card was ordered to undergo a behavioral health evaluation and was transported to West Point, New York, before being transferred for higher-level care at a New York civilian facility. There, he was diagnosed with a “brief psychotic disorder” and prescribed psychiatric medication, according to the report.
He was sent for a behavioral health evaluation and subsequently transferred to Four Winds Hospital, where he was again diagnosed with brief psychotic disorder and placed on a 90-day behavioral health profile restricting his access to weapons.
After his release on Aug. 3, Mr. Card expressed anger and made vague threats, according to the report, and he attempted to collect a firearm silencer but was refused due to his recent psychiatric hospitalization.
Despite recommendations for follow-up treatment and the removal of his access to personal weapons, Mr. Card was released from the hospital under unclear circumstances, as the staff declined to speak with Army investigators, according to the report.
“It is important to note that while the Army’s investigation was exhaustive and judicious, the investing officer and his team were unable to interview several key witnesses from Four Winds Hospital, SFC Card’s family, and State of Maine law enforcement personnel,” a summary of the report explained. “Because these individuals are not in the U.S. Army, the investigating officer had no legal authority to compel them to provide testimony, which they chose not to provide.”
Following his release from that facility, Mr. Card ceased communication with medical personnel and withdrew from social interactions.
Leadership Failing in ‘Critical’ Areas
Several issues were identified, including leadership failing in “critical” areas to address Mr. Card’s mental health.Because of those leadership failures, the Army said that administrative action was taken against three officers for dereliction of duty—which could affect further “military advances” for those officers.
Procedural breakdowns were also identified in Mr. Card’s care, including delayed and inadequate communication between medical facilities and the chain of command, according to the report.
Recommendations were made to update procedures for managing reserve soldiers’ medical cases, the report added.
The Psychological Health Program Office inadequately reviewed Mr. Card’s medical records, and the chain of command misunderstood their authority under HIPAA, according to the report.
The investigation highlighted the limited legal authority reserve commanders have over soldiers not in duty status, complicating the management of health and safety issues—with the Army stating this limitation underscores the need for strong relationships with local law enforcement and community resources.
“Even though we are on a limited duty status, that doesn’t stop us from calling our soldiers and caring about them and checking in with them and seeing how they’re doing and asking others to go and do those wellness checks,” Lt. Gen. Daniels said in response to a question about what the Army was able to do to address issues when reservists are off duty.
“You know, good leaders care about their soldiers, and they make sure that their civilian life is proceeding as well as it can. So having those good contacts and knowing about your soldiers is what we can continue to emphasize and make sure that our leaders actually follow through and care for their soldiers.”
Lt. Gen. Daniels added that there are still ongoing investigations into the matter beyond the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s investigation and the independent Army Inspector General’s case.
She said the Maine State Police and a state commission are also conducting investigations, and the Army and Army Reserve are making their personnel available to them in their ongoing investigations.
“It is my sincere hope that these medical reviews, expert analyses, refined process and policies, updated training and information sessions, and adverse administrative actions against those who are derelict of their duties will help us prevent such tragedies from happening in the future,” Lt. Gen. Daniels said. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the survivors and families of the deceased whose lives have been forever changed.”
