Maine mass shooting survivors refile lawsuit after Pentagon watchdog
report cites Army negligence
[September 26, 2025]
By PATRICK WHITTLE
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The survivors and family members of victims of
the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history have refiled their lawsuit
against the U.S. government following a new U.S. Department of Defense
watchdog report that faults the U.S. Army for a high rate of failure to
report violent threats by service members.
Eighteen people were killed in Lewiston in October 2023 when Robert Card
opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar and grill. Dozens of survivors
and relatives sued the federal government earlier this month on grounds
that the U.S. Army could have stopped Card, a reservist, from carrying
out the shootings.
Lawyers for the group filed their amended lawsuit on Tuesday. It cites a
report issued by the inspector general for the Defense Department this
month that concludes the Army failed to make mandatory reports of
violent threats almost half the time.
Military law enforcement is required to report violent threats to the
service’s military criminal investigative organization. The review found
the Army did not consistently follow that policy in 32 of 67 violent
threat investigations in 2023.
The report specifically mentions Card, who died by suicide two days
after the shootings. It says failure to consistently report violent
threats “could increase the risk of additional violent incidents by
service members, such as what occurred with SFC (Sgt. 1st Class) Card.”
The longstanding pattern of unaddressed threats gives the Lewiston
victims a stronger case, said Travis Brennan, an attorney for the group.
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A man photographs a make-shift memorial at the base of the Lewiston
sign at Veteran's Memorial Park, Oct. 29, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine.
(AP Photo/Matt York, File)
“Had the Army followed its own policies, it would have prevented an
unstable and mentally ill service member from going back into this
community without warning, protection, or a plan to keep us safe,”
Brennan said in a statement.
The attorneys filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District
of Maine. It states that the plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages.
It names as defendants the U.S. Army, Defense Department and Keller Army
Community Hospital, all of whom have yet to respond to the lawsuit.
Spokespeople for the DOD and hospital said they do not comment on
ongoing litigation. The Army did not respond to requests for comment on
Thursday.
An independent commission appointed by Maine’s governor concluded after
several hearings that there were numerous opportunities for intervention
by both Army officials and civilian law enforcement. Card was in the
midst of a mental health spiral that was known to many, and that led to
his hospitalization and left him paranoid, delusional and expressing
homicidal ideations, attorneys for the victims have said.
Card’s family members and fellow reservists said he had exhibited
delusional and paranoid behavior months before the shootings. One fellow
reservist said in a September text: “I believe he’s going to snap and do
a mass shooting.”
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