Months before the deadly rampage in Lewiston, Maine, the Army Reserve decided that the gunman, Robert Card, should not have access to weapons or ammunition, a service spokesperson told Military.com.
Card, an Army reservist, killed 18 people and injured 13 others at a bar and bowling alley last week in what was the deadliest mass shooting in that state’s history but also yet another of the gruesome incidents that have become disturbingly commonplace across the U.S. Card was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday, according to police.
Local police were notified in May of Card’s deteriorating mental health, authorities say. His family told police that his mental health started taking a noticeable downturn in January and expressed concern over his access to firearms, according to authorities.
Read Next: Iraq Campaign Medal Returns Amid Surge in Drone, Rocket Attacks on US Forces There
In July, Card had a mental health evaluation at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after displaying troubling behavior, two service officials told Military.com. However, it was unclear what the specifics of that behavior were and whether he admitted himself to care, or if he was ordered.
That is when the Army made the determination to ban Card from handling military weapons and ammo, according to a service official. Such a radical move is often reserved for extreme scenarios that could potentially turn violent, or is…
