LEWISTON, Maine — Legal representatives for a group of 100 individuals, including survivors and relatives of victims from the most lethal shooting incident in Maine’s history, have initiated the official process of filing a lawsuit against the Army and an Army hospital. They claim that the military’s inaction contributed to the tragedy, which occurred on October 25, 2023, when a reservist opened fire indiscriminately at local venues.
The notices of claim highlight that the Army was fully aware of the reservist’s deteriorating mental health status, which left him in a state of paranoia and delusion, even leading him to create a list of potential targets. In their communication, the attorneys expressed disbelief that the Army personnel lacked sufficient notifications regarding the warning signs that could have prompted preventive measures. “It is hard to imagine a scenario where there were more red flags or chances for intervention than in the case of Army Reservist Robert Card,” they stated.
This legal step, taken by four law firms, is necessary before proceeding with a lawsuit against the federal government. Following the submission of the claims, the Army is given a six-month period to formulate a response, at which point legal action may be pursued.
The October shooting left 18 individuals dead when Card, age 40, conducted attacks at a bowling alley and a cornhole event, resulting in an additional 13 injuries before he died two days later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An independent inquiry appointed by the Maine governor established that there were sufficient opportunities for both the Army and civilian law enforcement to intervene effectively. As it stands, legal actions are currently focused on the Army while excluding a private hospital or local law enforcement entities.
The claim asserts that the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, and Army Keller Hospital “failed to act appropriately, broke promises, and neglected their own guidelines and obligations.” In September 2023, Card reportedly made threats to “shoot up” an armory, leading to warnings from friends about a potential mass shooting. Despite this, the Army did not disclose essential background information regarding two doctors who had advised that Card should not possess weapons, when local law enforcement was asked to check in on him. Furthermore, Card’s commanding officer allegedly minimized the seriousness of the threats by undermining the person who issued the warning and withholding critical information, according to the claims.
Cynthia Young, who tragically lost her husband, William, and 14-year-old son, Aaron, in the bowling alley shooting, shared her sorrow, stating that the pain and trauma from this incident linger indefinitely. “As horrifying as the shooting was, it is even more heartbreaking that there were numerous chances to avert this tragedy, and those opportunities were missed,” she remarked.
The legal filings emphasize that while there may have once been a time when mass shootings were infrequent and difficult to predict, that is no longer the case in America. “Mass shootings, such as the one that unfolded in Lewiston, have become an epidemic in this country,” the claims argue. Those in positions of authority must acknowledge the warning signals and behaviors that indicate a potential for mass violence, take them seriously, and act decisively to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.