Communication Failures in Army Reservist's Care: The Tragic Case of Robert Card

A military investigation found multiple communication failures leading up to the mass shooting by Army reservist Robert Card in Maine, which left 18 dead. The probe underscores Card's deteriorating mental health and highlights administrative actions against three U.S. Army officers for dereliction of duty.

Three U.S. Army officers were punished for dereliction of duty in the case of Army reservist Robert Card, who shot 18 people to death in Maine last year before taking his own life, a military investigation released on Tuesday found.

The investigation revealed multiple communication failures before the mass shooting and found that Card, a sergeant 1st class, suffered from months of worsening mental health issues, including hallucinations. The Oct. 25 shooting spree at a bar and a bowling alley in Lewiston marked the deadliest episode of gun violence in Maine's history, leaving 18 people dead and 13 wounded.

Card, a petroleum supply specialist assigned to an Army Reserve unit in Saco, was found dead two days later of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His family had contacted the sheriff's office months earlier about his mental health concerns and access to firearms. The Army investigation cited numerous communication lapses between military and civilian hospitals and Card's chain of command. These failures, according to the investigation released on Wednesday, hurt Card's continuity of care.

The inquiry noted that the administrative action against the three officers could hinder their future military careers. Card had been experiencing hallucinations since early 2023 and was ordered to a behavioral health evaluation at a military hospital in July. Transferred to the civilian Four Winds Hospital in New York, he was released after 19 days when a court hearing to involuntarily commit him was canceled. Despite multiple red flags, including attacking his best friend, adequate action was not taken.

The Army reported that part of Card’s brain was sent to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for examination. In January, sheriff's officials defended their limited response to Card's mental health warning signs, noting that he had not committed any crime, according to local media reports.