Lawyers representing survivors and family members of victims of the deadliest shooting in Maine history have initiated legal action against the Army and an Army hospital for their alleged failure to intervene and prevent the tragic incident. The lawsuit involves 100 individuals affected by the shooting.
The legal representatives have filed individual notices of claim, asserting that the Army was aware of the deteriorating mental health of the reservist responsible for the shooting. The reservist exhibited signs of paranoia, delusions, and expressed homicidal intentions, even creating a 'hit list' of targets.
The attorneys emphasized that there were numerous warning signs and opportunities for the Army to intervene before the reservist, Robert Card, carried out the mass shooting. The incident resulted in the death of 18 individuals and injuries to 13 others at two separate locations in Lewiston on October 25, 2023.
An independent commission appointed by the governor of Maine concluded that both civilian law enforcement and the Army had ample chances to prevent the tragedy. However, the focus of the legal action is currently on the Army, rather than a private hospital that treated Card or civilian authorities.
The claim alleges that the Department of Defense, U.S. Army, and Army Keller Hospital failed to act appropriately, violated policies, and ignored directives that could have averted the shooting. It points out instances where critical information about Card's mental state was not adequately shared, despite warnings from individuals close to him.
One of the victims' family members, Cynthia Young, expressed ongoing pain and trauma, emphasizing that preventive actions could have spared many lives. The legal filings underscore the prevalence of mass shootings in America and the responsibility of authorities to recognize warning signs and take proactive measures to prevent such incidents.
