Lewiston Shooter's Family Calls for Overhaul in Military Mental Health Support

In a poignant and emotionally charged hearing, the family of Robert Card, the gunman responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in Maine's history, testified before a state commission on Thursday. The family members shared their anguish and frustration over the systemic failures that they believe contributed to the tragedy, which left 18 people dead and 13 others injured in Lewiston last October.

Nicole Herling, Card's sister, recounted her desperate attempts to get her brother the help he needed. She described how she had reached out to his friends, co-workers, and even left multiple voicemails with his Army Reserve commanders, all to no avail. Herling's efforts to convince her brother that the voices he was hearing were not real fell on deaf ears, and by September, Card had cut off contact with her.

"If you loved me, you would help," Card wrote in one of his final text messages to Herling. "You would find these people online saying these awful things about me."

The family's testimony revealed the depth of their devastation and their determination to seek change. James Herling, Nicole's husband, expressed the family's collective sense of guilt and responsibility. "We’ll always blame ourselves," he said, echoing the sentiments of other family members who spoke during the hearing.

The commission, which has been investigating the shooting since late November, heard from several family members, including Card's ex-wife, Cara Lamb. They detailed their struggles to get Card the help he needed and their frustration with the lack of response from the military and law enforcement.

Card, a 40-year-old Army reservist, had been suffering from a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) linked to his role as a hand grenade training instructor. The family donated his brain to the Boston University CTE Center, which confirmed the presence of a TBI. Researchers described his brain injury as one of the worst they had seen, even compared to those of military personnel who had served in combat zones.

"My brother-in-law was not this man — his brain was hijacked," James Herling said, his voice breaking with emotion. Nicole Herling added that her brother's fear of appearing mentally unstable likely exacerbated his condition.

The family's testimony highlighted the systemic failures that allowed Card to slip through the cracks. Despite numerous calls to the military and law enforcement, the family received little to no assistance. Nicole Herling recounted how she had called a veterans crisis line and was advised not to inform Card's commanders about the accusations against him, as it could lead to bullying.

In July, Card was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital in New York after attempting to punch another soldier. The family was told he would remain there for 30 days but were surprised when he was released after just two weeks. Upon his release, Card was prohibited from accessing weapons while on duty, but no measures were taken to secure his firearms at home.

The family also criticized the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office for failing to act on warnings about Card's deteriorating mental state. An interim report from the commission found that a sheriff's sergeant could have done more to seize Card's firearms and initiate the state's "yellow flag" law, which allows law enforcement to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.

Card's ex-wife, Cara Lamb, expressed her frustration with the lack of communication between agencies. She recounted how she struggled to find a place to go for help after their son expressed concerns about his father's mental health. "I am not sure that we have an appropriate place for those inappropriate questions," Lamb said.

The family's testimony was a call to action for systemic change, particularly in how the military and law enforcement handle mental health crises. Nicole Herling called on the Department of Defense to address the issue of low-level blast exposures that may contribute to TBIs. "Hear my battle cry today, and please support me in this journey," she urged.

The commission's final report is expected to provide recommendations for preventing similar tragedies in the future. The family's hope is that their testimony will lead to meaningful changes that ensure individuals facing mental health crises receive the help they need before it's too late.

As the hearing concluded, the family members reiterated their commitment to honoring the victims of the Lewiston shooting. "We have the names of each of the shooting victims on a wall in our home as a constant reminder," James Herling said. "We will never forget your names."