Family of Robert Card Warned Authorities About His Mental Decline Months Before Maine Shootings: Report

The family of Robert Card — the man responsible for the deadly mass shootings that killed 18 people and injured 13 others in Lewiston, Maine — had alerted authorities about his deteriorating mental health months before his violent rampage, according to the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office.

“Police were first contacted by members of Robert R. Card's family on May 3, 2023,” according to a statement issued by Sheriff Joel A. Merry. “The family said that Mr. Card's mental health had started to decline in January. They were concerned for his well-being and said that Mr. Card had access to firearms.”

Card’s family then “assured our office that they would ensure that Card received medical attention,” according to the release, which added: "In addition, Mr. Card's unit sergeant shared his plan to speak with Card.”

“In September, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office received an email from Mr. Card's Army Reserve unit in Saco, asking for a wellness check on Mr. Card,” Merry's statement continued. 

“A deputy visited Mr. Card's residence on Sept. 15, 2023, and Sept. 16, 2023. Mr. Card was not at his residence during the first visit,” the sheriff added. “The alert included a warning that Mr. Card was known to be armed and dangerous and included details of his behavior. The alert urged that officers use extreme caution.”

Per Merry's statement, the deputy spoke with Card's brother, who agreed to “secure any firearms” that Card could use, on Sept. 17.

According to an incident report obtained by ABC News, Card’s former wife, Cara, and their teenage son visited the Topsham School Resource Officer on May 3 with worries about Card.

“USE CAUTION IF RESPONDING” to Card’s house because of “PARANOID BEHAVIOR,” Sagadahoc County Deputy Chad Carleton wrote in the report, adding that he possessed “10-15 FIREARMS” in his residence and/or vehicle, per the outlet.

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“I learned from [Card’s son] that his father's mental health is in question. [Card’s son] told me that back around January, he noticed his father was starting to claim that people were saying things about him, while out in public,” Carleton wrote per ABC News.

“Cara also told me that Robert had recently picked up 10-15 handguns/rifles that had previously been stored at his brother Ryan Card's house,” Carleton added, per the outlet. “[His son] said the majority of the guns are locked up in Robert's bedroom but added he may have one in his truck. [Card’s son] denied that Robert has done anything threatening with the guns, but is concerned that his father has them.”

According to the Boston Globe, last month the Army Reserve said, “Card is going to snap and commit a mass shooting.”

Card, 40, was found dead last Friday near a river in Lisbon, Lewiston Police Chief David St. Pierre said. Maine Commissioner of Public Safety Michael Sauschuck said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 7:45 p.m. ET.

The Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.