Maine Massacre Investigation: Army Faults Officers for Lapses and Inaction
The U.S. Army has disciplined three officers for administrative failures and inaction ahead of the dreadful massacre committed by Army reservist Robert Card that claimed 18 lives in the state of Maine last year. However, officials have found no direct link between the horrifying violence and his military service, as revealed by recently-released investigation findings.
A Tragic Act of Mass Violence
On October 25, Robert Card opened fire in a Lewiston bowling alley and bar, injuring 13 people besides the 18 fatally wounded. This event represents Maine’s single most devastating act of mass violence. Card, aged 40, was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Card had long been on the radar of his military superiors, his family, and local law enforcement. His behavioral issues and specific warnings that Card might “snap and commit a mass shooting” were known to his military chain of command who regretfully failed to take requisite actions and prevent the tragedy.
Unstable Mental Condition and Negligence of Duty
Weeks before the incident, Card’s fellow soldier had alerted local authorities about the potential threat he posed. Card himself had confessed to hearing voices that ridiculed him, was briefly hospitalized at a psychiatric facility, and yet, his military superiors, instead of taking these issues seriously, failed to report his violent threats internally and neglected to properly understand the military regulations on gathering protected medical information or enquiring about their troops’ privately owned firearms.
Brain Injury and Blasts
A parallel study conducted on Card’s brain concluded that traumatic injuries likely influenced his behavioral changes. It was established that Card was regularly exposed to thousands of lower-level blasts through his work on a grenade range, raising questions about connections between his military service and his eventual mental decline.
Multiple Communication Failures
The Army investigation disclosed multiple communication failures between the military and civilian hospitals, as well as within Card’s chain of command. These lapses directly affected his continuity of care. Notably, Card’s medical history was inadequately communicated, limiting his immediate superiors’ knowledge about the depth of his mental health issues.
Potential Tragedy Averted?
The report asserts that if law enforcement had taken more proactive steps, the Maine tragedy could have been avoidable. Local authorities failed to enforce laws that allow judges to temporarily confiscate firearms from individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. A more exhaustive welfare check when law enforcement visited Card’s home could also have lent more insights into his deteriorating mental state and possibly led to a more persuasive argument for temporary gun control.
A Wake-Up Call for the System
This tragedy serves a wake-up call for all authorities involved to be more vigilant about behavioral changes and threats of violence among military personnel. More importantly, it underlines the urgency of improving communication within and across various entities engaged in the welfare and discipline of the military workforce.
