Families of the victims of the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history are calling for a broader federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings. The request comes after Army officials released reports about the October shootings, where three Army Reserve officers were disciplined in the aftermath of the tragedy. The families’ lawyers expressed concerns about the “narrow scope” of the Army reviews and conflicting conclusions in the reports. They are urging Maine’s congressional delegation to push for an investigation by the Inspector General for the Department of Defense to identify any system failures that may have led to the shooter being overlooked.
The shootings took place at a bowling alley and a bar and grill in Lewiston, where Robert Card, a reservist experiencing a mental health crisis, killed 18 people and injured many others before taking his own life. An independent commission established by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is also investigating the incident, with its report expected to be completed in the summer. The reports released by the Army on Tuesday highlighted a series of failures by unit leadership and documented concerning statements made by Card prior to the shootings, indicating a need for better management of reservists’ mental health.
The reports revealed that Card had boasted about his ability to kill 100 people with a rifle scope he had purchased and had informed a health care provider of his intention to quit his job before harming someone. The recommendations included procedural changes and new policies to improve the management of reservists’ mental health. Members of Maine’s congressional delegation have called for the Department of Defense to swiftly implement these recommendations in order to prevent similar tragedies in the future. While the families cannot undo the tragedy that occurred, they hope that lessons can be learned from past errors in order to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The families’ attorneys, Travis Brennan and Ben Gideon, are pushing for a DOD Inspector General to further investigate and clarify any outstanding questions surrounding the shootings. They believe that a broader investigation is necessary to address the conflicting conclusions between the Army reports and to uncover any overlooked warning signs about the shooter. Army officials have not yet responded to requests for comment from the Associated Press regarding the families’ calls for a more extensive investigation. The families are seeking justice for their loved ones and answers to the questions that remain unanswered from the original Army reports.
The devastating impact of the deadliest mass shooting in Maine’s history has left lasting scars on the community, with survivors still dealing with the physical and emotional aftermath of the tragedy. The families of the victims are determined to seek accountability and ensure that all avenues are explored in order to understand why the shooter’s warning signs were missed and why the incident was able to occur. By calling for a broader federal investigation and pushing for the implementation of recommended changes, the families are advocating for greater oversight and protection for reservists and their mental health in order to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
