Bath, Maine – Prior to the deadly mass shooting in Maine last week, the U.S. Army had determined that the suspect, Robert Card, should not have been in possession of an Army-issued weapon. The Army had also requested a welfare check from the local sheriff’s office.

According to Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army, Card’s commander was informed after a mental health hospitalization and evaluation in mid-July that Card should not have access to a weapon, handle ammunition, or participate in live fire activity. The Army had concerns about his well-being and deemed him unfit for deployable status. However, these restrictions only applied to Army-issued weapons and ammunition, not Card’s personal weapons.

The Army Reserve’s surgeon’s office and medical management team had made multiple attempts to contact Card, but their efforts were unsuccessful. In September, Card’s reserve unit requested a health and welfare check due to concerns for his safety. This request was carried out by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, but Card was not at home during the check.

Card’s family assured the sheriff’s office that they would secure any firearms that he had access to. The department also requested that the family notify them if they believed Card needed an evaluation or posed a risk to himself or others.

The events leading up to the shooting revealed that Card had exhibited erratic behavior while deployed with his Army Reserve Unit in upstate New York. Concerns for his safety prompted his unit to request law enforcement to intervene, resulting in Card being transported to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

Unfortunately, last Friday, Card was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The tragedy highlights concerns about the accessibility of military-issued weapons and the need for effective communication and collaboration between military authorities, law enforcement agencies, and mental health professionals to prevent such incidents.

Key Information: The U.S. Army had determined that the Maine shooting suspect, Robert Card, should not have had access to an Army-issued weapon. The Army had requested a welfare check from the local sheriff’s office due to concerns about Card’s well-being. The restrictions imposed by the Army did not apply to Card’s personal weapons. Despite these precautions, Card carried out a mass shooting, resulting in numerous casualties. Card had previously exhibited erratic behavior while deployed with his Army Reserve Unit in upstate New York. The authorities found Card dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.