Authorities Detain Army Reservist Suspected in Maine Massacre for Psychological Assessment Following Unstable Conduct in July

In mid-July, law enforcement officers took a U.S. Army reservist, suspected of murdering at least 18 individuals in Maine, for a psychological evaluation. This action was prompted by concerns from military officials regarding the man’s unstable behavior, according to an anonymous U.S. government source who spoke to The Big Big News.

Robert Card, a member of the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, raised alarm among military commanders during a training session at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. The commanders became apprehensive about Card’s mental well-being and contacted New York state police, who subsequently took Card to Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for psychological assessment.

Law enforcement agencies have issued an arrest warrant for the 40-year-old Card, linked to a violent episode in Lewiston that resulted in mass panic. Maine State Police Col. William Ross announced that the warrant includes eight counts of murder, a number expected to rise as additional victims are identified.

A police memorandum, disseminated among law enforcement agencies as Card emerged as a person of interest, revealed that he had been admitted to a mental health institution for a fortnight in the summer of 2023. Although the document did not elaborate on his condition or treatment, it mentioned that Card had reported experiencing auditory hallucinations and had expressed intentions to commit violence at a military base.

Public records indicate that the phone number registered to Card is currently not in service.

In a related incident on Wednesday, an active shooter was reported at both Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley located approximately 4 miles away. The bowling alley was hosting a children’s league event at the time. A witness, identifying himself only as Brandon, described hearing around 10 shots, initially mistaking the first for a popped balloon. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he fled to hide within the machinery of the bowling alley.

Lewiston, Maine’s second-largest city, has recently become a focal point for African immigration, notably from Somalia, altering the demographics of a city once predominantly white. The recent incident marks the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Big Big News and USA Today, in collaboration with Northeastern University.

In response to the tragedy, educational institutions including Bates and Bowdoin colleges, as well as the Gorham and Portland campuses of the University of Southern Maine, suspended their classes. Likewise, public buildings and schools in Portland and other areas closed as a precautionary measure.

Author Stephen King, a resident of Maine, expressed his outrage via social media, admonishing the lack of effective gun control measures and calling the situation “madness in the name of freedom.”

State laws in Maine do not require permits to carry firearms, reflecting a deeply ingrained culture of gun ownership tied to hunting and sport shooting traditions.

Diana Florence, a New York resident whose son attends Bates College, expressed her frustration with the ongoing issue of gun violence and mental health, stating, “Our children are paying the price.”

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News journalists Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, Michael Balsamo in New York, Darlene Superville and Lolita Baldor in Washington, Michael Casey in Boston, and Holly Ramer and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire.

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More about Maine Massacre Army Reservist Evaluation

• Maine Mass Shooting Incident Overview
• U.S. Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment
• Mental Health Evaluations in the U.S. Military
• New York State Police Jurisdiction and Responsibilities
• Gun Violence Statistics in the United States
• Current Gun Laws in Maine
• Bates College Official Statement on the Incident
• Stephen King’s Social Media Response to the Shootings