Maine senators question Army over interactions with mass shooter

Maine Sens. Susan Collins (R) and Angus King (I) sent a letter to the U.S. Army inspector general requesting a thorough investigation of how warning signs were missed about Robert Card, an Army reservist who killed 18 people and injured 13 in Lewiston, Maine, last month.

The senators pressed Lt. Gen. Donna Martin to launch a review of the incident to “fully understand what happened” and “what could have been done differently” to prevent Card from opening fire at a bowling alley and bar in the Maine city.

“Nothing we can do will bring back the lives lost in this tragedy, but we can work together to help prevent future shootings,” the senators wrote in the Friday letter.

They asked the inspector general to investigate whether the Army followed proper procedures, whether any laws or regulations prevented officials from taking greater action and if any reforms are underway, among other concerns.

After the Oct. 25 mass shooting, the deadliest in Maine’s history, police launched a search that lasted two days before finding Card, 40, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Card was a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army Reserves and had a history of mental illness and troubling behavior before carrying out the mass killing.

The senators expressed concern that several warning signs appear to have been overlooked.

The Army Reserve flagged concerns over the summer about Card during training in New York, with personnel who evaluated him saying he wanted to “shoot up” an Army facility in Maine. Card was also recommended not to be handed any firearms.

“Despite these warning signs, and others, there was no attempt to trigger the crisis intervention laws” in New York or Maine, the senators wrote in the letter.

New York has a red flag law that allows a court to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who may be a threat to themselves or others.

Maine has a yellow flag law, which requires petitioners to notify law enforcement first of threatening individuals, who may then be subject to a mental health evaluation.