Army reservist who warned about Maine killer before shootings to testify before investigators

A U.S. Army reservist who provided the clearest informing up of Maine’s deadliest wide shooting is expected to reply questions from the committee that's investigating the tragedy

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A U.S. Army reservist who sounded the clearest informing up of Maine’s deadliest wide shooting is expected to reply questions Thursday from the committee investigating the tragedy.

Six weeks earlier Robert Card killed 18 radical astatine a barroom and bowling alley successful Lewiston, his champion person and chap reservist Sean Hodgson texted their supervisors, telling them to alteration the passcode to the gross astatine their Army Reserve grooming installation and limb themselves if Card showed up.

“I judge he’s going to drawback and bash a wide shooting,” Hodgson wrote connected Sept. 15.

That connection came months aft relatives had warned constabulary that Card had grown paranoid and said they were acrophobic astir his entree to guns. The nonaccomplishment of authorities to region guns from Card's possession successful the weeks earlier the shooting has go the taxable of a monthslong probe successful the state, which besides has passed caller weapon information laws since the tragedy.

Card besides was hospitalized successful a psychiatric infirmary for 2 weeks successful July, and the Army barred him from having weapons portion connected duty. But speech from concisely staking retired the reserve halfway and visiting Card’s home, authorities declined to face him. He was recovered dormant of a self-inflicted gunshot coiled 2 days aft the shootings.

In an interim study released past month, the autarkic committee launched by Gov. Jane Mills concluded that the Sagadahoc County sheriff’s bureau had probable origin nether Maine’s “yellow flag” instrumentality to instrumentality Card into custody and prehend his guns. It besides criticized constabulary for not pursuing up with Hodgson astir his informing text.

On Thursday, the committee plans to perceive from the state’s manager of unfortunate witnesses services. Hodgson told The Associated Press helium is scheduled to beryllium questioned Thursday morning.

In an exclusive bid of interviews successful January, Hodgson told The AP helium met Card successful the Army Reserve successful 2006 and that they became adjacent friends aft some divorced their spouses astir the aforesaid time. They lived unneurotic for astir a period successful 2022, and erstwhile Card was hospitalized successful New York successful July, Hodgson drove him backmost to Maine.

Growing progressively disquieted astir his friend’s intelligence health, Hodgson warned authorities aft an incidental successful which Card started “flipping out” aft a nighttime of gambling, pounding the steering instrumentality and astir crashing aggregate times. After ignoring his pleas to propulsion over, Card punched him successful the face, Hodgson said.

“It took maine a batch to study idiosyncratic I love,” helium said. “But erstwhile the hairsbreadth starts lasting up connected the backmost of your neck, you person to listen.”

Some officials downplayed Hodgson’s warning, suggesting helium mightiness person been drunk due to the fact that of the precocious hr of his text. Army Reserve Capt. Jeremy Reamer described him arsenic “not the astir credible of our soldiers” and said his connection should beryllium taken “with a atom of salt.”

Hodgson said helium struggles with post-traumatic accent upset and intoxicant addiction but said helium wasn’t drinking that nighttime and was awake due to the fact that helium works nights and was waiting for his brag to call.