Army reservist's family describes struggle to get help before mass shooting in Maine

Release time：2024-05-17 09:40:48 Source：World Wander news portal

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The sister and brother-in-law of an Army reservist responsible for killing 18 people in Maine gave an emotional apology for the deadly rampage on Thursday, and said Army officials frustrated their efforts to get him mental health care before the shooting.

Hearing public testimony from shooter Robert Card’s family for the first time, an independent commission investigating the mass shooting in Lewiston opened with Card’s sister, Nicole Herling, and her husband James Herling, who said they struggled for months to get help as his brother-in-law’s mental health declined.

“Our family will never forget your names,” Herling said, adding that pictures of the victims are on the walls of his family home. “There is no way to express the sorrow that we feel,” he added.

Putting his head in his hands, and with his wife leaning into shoulder, James Herling became emotional as he described how Card became increasingly paranoid. Facing the panel of commissioners, the family began sobbing as Herling recalled the moment when the couple figured out who the shooter was.

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