Newly released documents unveil the potential reason behind the suspect’s shooting in Maine.

Recently released legal papers have revealed insights into the potential reason behind the large-scale shooting in Lewiston, Maine – as well as the supposed shooter’s mental state.

On Tuesday, the Maine State Police and Maine Department of Public Safety made public a collection of sworn statements, search warrants, and other records relating to the case. These documents include disturbing testimonies from the suspect’s son and brother, as well as from survivors of the violent attack.

The records indicate that individuals informed authorities that prior to the attacks on October 25th, the US Army reservist was under the belief that individuals at Schemengees Bar & Grille and Just-In-Time bowling alley were spreading online conspiracies accusing him of being a pedophile.

According to witnesses, the perpetrator of the shooting rampage believed that one of his victims, who was the bar manager, had previously referred to him as “gay”.

He also encountered his former girlfriend at the bar – a former girlfriend who had recently ended their relationship.

The updated information shows that the individual, who is 40 years old, had connections to the bar and bowling alley. This helps explain why he may have decided to attack those two places, which has now become Maine’s first significant mass shooting.

At approximately 7pm on October 25th, the shooter initially focused on the well-known bowling alley, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. Among the victims was a 14-year-old boy who was playing in a bowling league with his father.

Afterward, he immediately went to the Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant and began shooting, resulting in the deaths of eight people. Three others passed away after being transported to a nearby hospital.

In addition to the 18 fatalities, 13 individuals were wounded in the assaults.

The search for the suspect lasted two days after the shooting occurred, until Card’s body was discovered on Friday in a trailer at a recycling plant in Lisbon where he was previously employed. He took his own life and authorities have confirmed that he left a note at his residence, revealing his intention to not be found alive.

In May, five months prior to the mass shooting, Card’s relatives reached out to the authorities regarding his troubling beliefs. These beliefs involved a conspiracy where people were accusing him of being a paedophile, as revealed in newly released documents.

As per a report of an incident, submitted by a deputy from Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office, the son of Card informed the authorities that his father started claiming that he thought people were discussing him while they were in public.

Starting in January, he reported encounters with individuals who were not even near them and were not speaking to his father.

According to the deputy, the man’s son believed that Robert was possibly hearing voices or developing paranoia.

He mentioned that the recurring concern in this paranoia was that Card accused others of making negative remarks about him, including accusations of pedophilia.

Over time, the situation intensified when Card’s son disclosed that he became “extremely furious” with his father during a visit and even accused his own son of speaking ill of him.

According to the documents, several other witnesses also expressed that Card’s mental state revolved around his fear of a conspiracy against him by pedophiles.

Card communicated with his sibling via text message, discussing the possibility of pursuing legal measures against individuals who were accusing him of being a paedophile. His sibling informed the authorities about this conversation.

On the other hand, a member of the Army Reserves unit claimed that Card had made allegations against fellow soldiers, accusing them of labeling him as a sex offender.

The military incident prompted the Army to have him undergo a mental health assessment during the summer.

Card stated that four nearby establishments he regularly visited, including the two specifically targeted in the violent attack, were publicly promoting the false accusation that he was a pedophile.

According to witnesses, Card eventually came to suspect that certain family members were also part of the plot.

The affidavit states that the “plot” seemed to originate from when he took his former girlfriend’s two young daughters to Schemengees for a meal.

The document states that Robert’s fear of being perceived as a pedophile originated from his presence with his girlfriend’s two daughters, where he felt scrutinized by others.

He also informed the witness that the bar manager, Joey Walker, had accused him of being homosexual.

Walker was among the 18 individuals who lost their lives in the shooting incident. It is uncertain if Card specifically singled him out when he began shooting at the bar.

According to a witness, Card’s girlfriend was also met at Schemengees while they were participating in a cornhole tournament. Law enforcement was informed of this.

According to the affidavit, the couple ended their relationship in February and Card’s behavior seemed to deteriorate afterwards.

Witnesses reported that he started wearing hearing aids, experienced a considerable decrease in weight, and began making nonsensical remarks.

During the month of July, Card was admitted to a psychiatric facility in New York and received a prescription for medication.

The Army deemed him unfit for deployment and, in September, a local police check was requested due to worries that he may “lose control and carry out a mass shooting”.

A notification was sent out across the state in search of Card.

However, the alert was cancelled on October 18th after two unsuccessful checks were made on his residence.

Card began his deadly attack one week later.

When the news of the shooting reached the Lewiston community, Card’s family immediately became worried that he was the perpetrator.

After shots were fired at Schemengees, his sister promptly contacted the police and provided his name.

Source: independent.co.uk