Survivors of Lewiston Mass Shooting Plan to Sue the Military for Negligence
Survivors of the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which claimed the lives of 18 individuals last October, have formally notified the Defense Department of their intention to file a lawsuit against the military for negligence. This announcement was made on Tuesday and includes dozens of survivors, along with relatives of the victims, who argue that the Army failed in its duty to address the shooter’s deteriorating mental health and alarming threats of violence.
Nearly a year after the devastating incident, which unfolded at a local bar and a nearby bowling alley, the survivors and families of the victims have expressed their concerns through their attorneys. They highlighted “numerous unheeded red flags and warning signs that should have triggered action on the part of the Army,” suggesting that timely intervention could have potentially averted the horrific events.
The gunman, identified as Robert R. Card II, a 40-year-old Army Reserve grenade instructor from Bowdoin, Maine, exhibited troubling behavior that raised alarms among his Army colleagues and supervisors for several months leading up to the shooting. Despite his escalating threats and increasingly erratic conduct last fall, neither the Army nor any other entity took the necessary steps to confiscate his firearms. Tragically, he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound two days after the shooting spree.
“The Army was acutely aware of the risks he posed, more so than anyone else,” stated Travis Brennan, a lawyer representing the families and survivors. “They had multiple opportunities to intervene, yet they failed at every critical juncture.” He emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “Unless individuals stand up and voice their concerns about the flawed systems that contribute to such shootings, change will remain elusive.”
According to federal regulations, the government is mandated to review the claims submitted by the group within a six-month timeframe and respond accordingly. Following this review, the families plan to pursue civil lawsuits in federal court, as indicated by Mr. Brennan.
Similar legal battles have often been protracted. For instance, five years after a gunman killed 26 people at a Texas church in 2017, a federal judge determined that the government bore 60 percent of the liability and awarded the survivors and families a staggering $230 million. The judge noted that the Air Force had neglected to submit essential records of prior criminal offenses to a database that would have prevented the gunman from acquiring firearms. After the government appealed this ruling, a settlement reached in 2023 ultimately reduced the compensation awarded to the families.
