Federal Lawsuit Filed: Maine Shooting Victims Accuse US Army of Negligence

Survivors and relatives of victims from the devastating October 2023 Maine mass shooting have filed a federal lawsuit against the United States government, alleging that the U.S. Army’s negligence directly led to the tragedy. The lawsuit, representing over 100 individuals, contends that Army officials were fully aware of reservist Robert Card’s rapidly deteriorating mental health and access to firearms but failed to intervene, calling it “one of the most preventable mass tragedies in American history.”

Eighteen people were killed when Robert Card opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill. An independent commission later confirmed numerous missed opportunities for intervention by both Army and civilian law enforcement as Card’s mental state worsened, culminating in his death by suicide two days after the shootings.

The lawsuit details critical accusations, stating that by March 2023, the Army knew Card was “paranoid, delusional, violent, and lacked impulse control,” and despite promising to remove his weapons, failed to do so. Furthermore, it alleges the Army “withheld information and actively misled local law enforcement,” thereby preventing others from disarming Card.

Attorneys provided additional details during a news conference held Wednesday in Lewiston, near the site of the tragic events. The legal process began nearly a year ago with notices of claim, highlighting the Army’s inaction despite clear warnings, including Card’s hospitalization in July 2023 and a stark September text from a fellow reservist: “I believe he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting.”

Internal Army investigations following the shootings also identified “a series of failures by unit leadership,” leading to disciplinary actions against three Army Reserve leaders. While the Lewiston shootings prompted new gun laws in Maine, the ongoing legal battle with the federal government now brings renewed focus on accountability for the tragic events.

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