Robert Card: Newly released bodycam footage shows Maine mass shooter declaring 'I'm capable' before psychiatric hospitalization

LEWISTON, MAINE: Maine gunman Robert Card informed police that he had the capability to carry out unspecified actions, during a welfare check three months prior to his deadly rampage at a bar and bowling alley, as per daily mail. 

For context, Robert Card, a former Army reservist, perpetrated the massacre in Lewiston, Maine, claiming the lives of eighteen individuals on October 25, as confirmed during a public announcement on Friday. 

Notably, Card was subsequently found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near dumpsters at a recycling plant in Lisbon Falls, where he had previously worked, on October 27.

What happened in newly-released footage amid Robert Card shooting?

In a recently released bodycam video, Robert Card can be heard telling state police, "They are scared, cause I’m gonna friggin’ do something, because I’m capable." 

This happened after Card was told to go to an Army facility for hospitalization because his fellow soldiers were worried about him.

One officer asked Card what he meant by that statement. Card, who seemed upset, replied sharply, "Nothing," before being informed that he would be taken to an Army hospital to talk with a counselor.

In the footage, Card also mentioned that people had been talking behind his back for about six months, spreading rumors that he was gay and a pedophile.

In the video, Card's fellow reservists, whose names were not mentioned, expressed concern about him. They noticed that he had lost weight and looked very thin.

They also said that his behavior had changed a lot over the past six months. One man, who said he was Card's first sergeant, told the officers, "Our concern is that he’s either going to hurt himself or someone else."

One of the reservists described Card as a "gun nut" who spent $14,000 on a scope. He said, "I don’t know what he’s capable of. I’m not insinuating anything. But I’m just saying he does have a ton of guns."

Card's fellow reservists drove him to Kelly Army Hospital for evaluation, and he ended up spending two weeks at a psychiatric hospital.

Robert Card purchased rifle two weeks before hospitalization

According to Maine state police, The Ruger .308-caliber assault rifle used in the killings in Lewiston was bought by Card on July 6, just before his two-week hospitalization. 

He was hospitalized after having psychotic episodes, saying he heard voices and threatened the base where he was stationed. 

In May last year, police were told that Card was paranoid and they worried about his access to guns. 

In August, he was forbidden from handling weapons when on duty and declared nondeployable by the Army. 

Then in September, reservists were so worried he might kill someone that they told each other to 'change the passcode' to the base gate in Saco.

One text by a Sergeant Hudson reads, “Change the passcode to the unit gate and be armed if Sergeant First Class Card does arrive. Please. I believe he's messed up in the head.

He added, “And threaten the unit other and other places. I love [him] to death but I do not know how to help him and he refuses to get help”

The message continued, “I'm afraid he's going to f**k up his life from hearing things he thinks he's heard. Dropped him off he was concerned his weapons were still in the car...He still has all his weapons”

He said, “I think he's going to snap and do a mass shooting.