Maine State Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of an Army reservist in connection with a mass shooting that killed at least 18 people in the state. Police say Robert Card, 40, behaved so erratically at a recent Army Reserve training event that his unit called police.
Card is being sought on eight counts of murder in connection with Wednesday’s mass shooting. The warrant lists just eight counts of murder because police do not yet have the official identifications of the other 10 people killed, said Shannon Moss, a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
“Once we do, those charges will be upgraded,” Moss told Task & Purpose on Thursday.
Card, 40, is a sergeant first class and a petroleum supply specialist in the Army Reserve, according to the Army. He enlisted in December 2002 and his record does not list any combat deployments.
His military awards include the Army Achievement Medal, two Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, the Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
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Maine State Police are trying to find Card in connection with Wednesday’s shootings at two locations in Lewiston: Schemengees Bar and Grille, and Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley, according to a police bulletin.
A trained firearms instructor, Card previously threatened to attack a National Guard base in Saco, Maine, and he recently reported that he has experienced mental health issues, including hearing voices, the bulletin says.
He was also reportedly committed to a mental health facility for two weeks this summer before being released, according to the bulletin.
Card is currently considered armed and dangerous, the police bulletin says.
Over the summer, Card behaved erratically while taking part in training with the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, according to the New York National Guard.
The incident took place on July 16, a statement from the New York National Guard says. At the time, Card’s unit was being billeted at the Camp Smith Training Site while training at the United States Military Academy.
“Out of concern for his safety, the unit requested that law enforcement be contacted,” the statement says. “New York State Police responded and transported Card to Keller Army Community Hospital at the United States Military Academy for medical evaluation.”
This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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