LEWISTON, Maine (NEWSnet/AP) — Maine's congressional delegation is asking the Army to investigate the events that led to a mass shooting in October by one of its reservists.
Robert Card killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a restaurant Oct. 25 in Lewiston on Oct. 25. His body was found two days later, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reports began to emerge that Card had spent two weeks in a psychiatric hospital and had been accumulating weapons.
Following a meeting with families affected by the killings, members of the Maine delegation requested that Department of the Army Inspector General investigate.
The delegation said Army officials have informed them there will be an administrative investigation into the events that preceded Card's death. The members said in a statement that they want a separate, independent, concurrent investigation into the shootings that will be more extensive than the administrative inquiry.
The Lewiston families said in a statement they appreciate the swift action from the lawmakers after meeting with them.
It's imperative to determine “the facts surrounding the lead up to the October 25 mass shooting and to identifying any breakdowns or systems failures” that enabled Card to commit the shootings, the statement said.
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