Lewiston, Maine – Three months before Robert Card carried out the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the state, he made cryptic remarks to police officers during a welfare check, as seen in body cam footage obtained by WMTW. The New York State troopers were enforcing a directive to bring Card to counseling services at a West Point Army facility in July, after concerns were raised by his Army Reserve unit about his mental state.
At one point, one of the troopers tells Card, “I hope you understand that they’re concerned enough about your welfare that they called us.” To which Card responds, “Oh, because they’re scared — because I’m going to, friggin, do something. Because I am capable.” When asked to explain, Card replies with “Nothing.”
The concerns about Card’s mental health came to light after he fatally shot 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, sparking a massive manhunt that ended with his suicide. The reservists who knew Card detailed their years-long friendship with him, which had become strained due to his poor mental state. They mentioned that he had spent a lot of money on guns and revealed that Card had been hearing rumors about himself being gay and a pedophile.
The article goes on to share that Card’s best friend had expressed fear to their boss that Card was “going to snap and do a mass shooting,” weeks before the tragic incident. After carrying out the massacre, Card fled and was found dead two days later with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His motive remains a mystery, but officials are investigating his extensive history of mental health issues.
The body cam footage and the troopers’ accounts provide a chilling insight into Card’s mental state and the concerns raised by those close to him. It sheds light on the actions and behaviors that raised red flags in the months leading up to the tragic event, adding a new layer to the understanding of the circumstances surrounding the mass shooting.