Army Reservist Warns of Friend’s Mass Shooting Threat before Lewiston Tragedy; Investigation Criticizes Police Inaction on Warning Texts and Lax Gun Laws

During a hearing for an investigation into Maine’s deadliest mass shooting, Army reservist Sean Hodgson testified about his friend Robert Card’s mental decline and warning signs leading up to the tragedy six months ago. Six weeks before the attacks at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, where Card held delusional beliefs that people were talking behind his back, Hodgson warned superiors that he believed Card would snap and commit a mass shooting due to violent threats against multiple members of their unit. Another reservist also testified about witnessing Card’s mental and physical decline firsthand as well as concerning behaviors, such as acquiring an expensive thermal scope with laser rangefinder capabilities and becoming increasingly paranoid that others were calling him a pedophile. Some officials downplayed Hodgson’s warning after describing him as “not the most credible of our soldiers” due to late-hour text messages about Card, suggesting he might have been drunk at the time. However, Hodgson denied this and explained that his message should be taken seriously because of growing concerns over Card’s behavior. The failure to remove Card’s weapons before the shooting has led to a state investigation which criticized police for not following up with Hodgson about his warning text. A final report is expected in summer, while an interim report released last month concluded that authorities had probable cause under Maine’s “yellow flag” law to take Card into custody and seize his guns due to concerning behaviors before the tragedy. Cara Cookson also testified Thursday evening on behalf of victims affected by the shootings who struggle with healing and responding appropriately after a mass tragedy through limited resources. During a ceremony honoring those impacted, Governor Janet Mills acknowledged that Maine’s community is still working towards long-term recovery efforts in response to this devastating event.