Portland, Maine – In a tragic turn of events, an Army reservist named Robert Card committed the deadliest shooting in Maine’s history, resulting in the loss of 18 lives. Despite concerns from his family about his mental health, Card received a glowing review from his superiors just six months before the mass shooting.
According to documents released under an open records request, Card was described as “a consummate professional” who excelled as a squad leader and was praised for his mentoring of troops. However, his family members had noticed disturbing changes in his behavior, such as becoming angry and paranoid, leading to false accusations against his own son.
Card had been appointed as one of his unit’s suicide prevention officers in 2015-2016, indicating that mental health concerns were not entirely foreign to his superiors. Despite this, no disciplinary records were found in the released personnel files.
In the months leading up to the shooting, Card’s fellow reservists expressed worry and alarm about his behavior, with one even issuing a stark warning to a superior officer that Card was “going to snap and do a mass shooting.” Sadly, these concerns were not reflected in Card’s personnel record, which dated back to his enlistment in 2002 at the University of Maine.
While Card’s final evaluation praised his professionalism and excellence in his role as a senior trainer, it failed to mention any concerns about his mental well-being. Shortly after this evaluation, Card was hospitalized for erratic behavior, which culminated in the tragic shooting that claimed 18 lives.
The manhunt for Card ended when he took his own life in a parking lot, leaving behind a trail of devastation and questions about how such a tragedy could have been prevented. The investigation into the shootings continues as a governor-appointed independent commission looks to uncover the factors that led to this horrific event.