Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP / Getty Images
Lawyers representing 100 survivors and relatives of victims of the deadliest shooting in Maine's history have initiated the formal process of suing the U.S. Army and an Army hospital. The lawsuit alleges that the Army failed to act to prevent the reservist, Robert Card, responsible for the crime, despite being aware of his declining mental health and homicidal ideations.
The shooting, which took place on October 25, 2023, resulted in the death of 18 people and injured 13 others at two locations frequented by Card - a bowling alley and a cornhole league hosted by a bar and grill. Card was found dead by suicide two days later.
The notices of claim, filed by four law firms, are a required step in suing the federal government. The Army now has six months to respond, after which a lawsuit may be filed. The claims state that the Army was aware of Card's mental health decline, which left him paranoid, delusional, and expressing homicidal ideations, even producing a “hit list” of those he wanted to attack.
The Department of Defense, U.S. Army, and Army Keller Hospital are accused of breaking their promises, failing to act reasonably, violating their own policies and procedures, and disregarding directives and orders. The claims also highlight that in September 2023, when Card threatened to “shoot up” an armory and his friend warned of "a mass shooting," the Army did not provide critical background about two doctors recommending that Card not have access to weapons when it requested that local law enforcement officers check on his well-being.
Cynthia Young, whose husband William and 14-year-old son Aaron were killed at the bowling alley, said in a statement that the pain and trauma will never go away.
"As horrific as the shooting was, it is even more tragic that there were many opportunities to prevent this and they were not taken," she added.
The Army has not yet responded to the claims.