Army Reserve Officers Disciplined after Mass Shooting by Reservist in Maine

Army Reserve officers disciplined in the aftermath of a deadly rampage in Maine

Three Army Reserve officers have been disciplined following a tragic shooting in Maine, where a reservist killed 18 people. An Army report revealed various mishaps, including failures in communication within the military hierarchy and between the military and civilian medical institutions.

Reports Reveal “Series of Failures”

Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, chief of the Army Reserves, reported that the investigation found “a series of failures by unit leadership,” which could potentially curtail the professional advancement of the disciplined officers, whose identities have not been made public. The October 2023 attack attracted criticism from survivors and family members of the victims as there were several missed chances to prevent the attack. Many had reported the gunman’s delusional and paranoid behavior months before the incident.

Army Reserves Response to Tragedy

Lt. Gen. Daniels expressed deep sympathy for the victims’ families and the witnesses of the event. She emphasized that the Army Reserves were doing all they could to understand exactly what happened and implement changes to prevent such incidents in the future.

Warnings Ignored

The Army report revealed that the shooter, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Card, had previously fallen from a ladder. This accident could have caused head injuries that were discovered during a post-mortem examination. Despite these findings, there was a clear assertion from Daniels that there was no link between his brain injury and his military service.

Tragic Shootings at Local Venues

The attack on October 25, 2023, took place at a bowling alley and at a local bar and grill in Lewiston, Maine. Besides the deaths of 18 individuals, wounds from the shooting were survived by 13 people, and 20 others suffered non-shooting injuries. The shooter eventually died by suicide.

Investigations and Required Reforms

Both Army Reserves and the Army’s Inspector General were tasked to provide a full account of the sequence of events. A comprehensive report, based on interviews with witnesses, visits to shooting sites, and other evidential exhibits, recommends procedural amendments and policy changes to manage reservists’ mental health effectively.

Findings of the Army’s Inspector General Report

The Inspector General’s report, requested by the state’s congressional delegation, also had its own suggestions for improvement while placing the blame for the tragedy unequivocally on Sgt. Robert Card.

Proposed Changes and Recommendations

The Army report emphasized failures in the Reserve unit’s leadership, communication breakdowns between an Army and civilian psychiatric hospital, among other procedural mistakes. Recommendations for a review of the U.S. Army Reserve’s behavioral health force structure and a comprehensive retraining program across the entire U.S. Army Reserves have been put forward in the report.