The alleged shooter in Wednesday’s attack in Lewiston that left 18 dead and 13 injured was evaluated by police and an Army hospital after military officials flagged concerns about his erratic behavior.
The Maine Information & Analysis Center, an intelligence arm of the Maine State Police, released information Wednesday night showing that Robert R. Card II was previously investigated for erratic and potentially violent behavior.
“According to local law enforcement, Card recently reported mental health issues to include hearing voices and threats to shoot up a National Guard base in Saco, ME,” the MIAC memo said.
Maine Commissioner for the Department of Public Safety declined to comment on Card’s institutionalization when asked about the report at a press conference Thursday morning.
Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck responds to a question asking how the Lewiston shooting suspect was allowed to obtain a firearm given reports of his mental health issues. pic.twitter.com/2dYibNC0X1
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) October 26, 2023
That information was confirmed Thursday in Associated Press reporting that quoted anonymous U.S. Officials.
A U.S. official told the Associated Press Thursday that police in New York took Maine shooting suspect Robert Card to a hospital in July to receive a medical evaluation after military officials grew concerned about his erratic behavior.
Commanders in the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment grew concerned this summer over Card’s behavior. He was reportedly acting erratically during training at West Point in New York.
New York state police took Card to the Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point for involuntary admission, the official told the AP.
Card is now being sought by police for murder following the mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday that left 18 people dead.
Card’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
The Maine State Police have described him as being armed and dangerous.
As many as 300 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are currently engaged in what may be the largest manhunt in Maine history.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="22909 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=22909">2 Comments
So, they knew. HE WAS ON THEIR RADAR. They allowed him to commit these atrocities.
The federal laws say that IF a person is adjudicated to a mental health institute, THEN they have lost their right to have a firearm. The police taking him to the mental institute is NOT adjudication. Adjudicated means that a judge decided that it was necessary and then created the necessary paperwork to make it happen. He was NOT adjudicated by what this says, so no legal need to report this or prohibit him from having guns – legally!