One year after the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, where Army reservist Robert Card took the lives of 18 people and injured 13 others, his family is on a mission to shed light on the impact of traumatic brain injuries.
Card, a firearms and hand grenade instructor, had a history of documented mental health issues before he carried out the deadly attack on a bowling alley and a bar and grill using a Ruger SFAR on Oct. 25, 2023. He was later found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Nicole Herling, Card's sister, expressed the family's determination to prevent similar tragedies, stating, 'We want to make sure this doesn't ever, ever happen again to another family.'
The Herlings have been vocal about their efforts to alert authorities about Card's mental health struggles leading up to the massacre, which marked the deadliest mass shooting in Maine.
Despite their attempts to seek help by contacting a veterans' crisis hotline and Card's military base, the tragedy unfolded. Law enforcement had even visited Card's residence a month before the shooting following concerns raised by his family, but no contact was made.
During a legislative hearing in May, it was revealed that a fellow Army reservist had warned superiors about Card's potential for violence a month before the shooting, citing concerns of a mass shooting.
Post-incident research on Card's brain revealed severe traumatic brain injuries, likely stemming from his role as a hand-grenade instructor and exposure to numerous explosions throughout his career.
In response to their personal tragedy, the Herlings are establishing a nonprofit organization, Rising Over Brokenness, to educate the public about the risks associated with brain injuries.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, aimed at promoting brain health and addressing traumatic brain injuries among service members.
Furthermore, families of the victims and survivors of the mass shooting have initiated legal action against the DOD, Army, and Keller Army Community Hospital for alleged negligence in responding to warning signs and threats made by Card prior to the tragic event.
The Herlings have memorialized the victims of the shooting by displaying their names on their property, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the pain caused by such acts of violence.
