Unsealed court documents have shed light on the possible motive behind the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, revealing the alleged gunman's state of mind leading up to the tragic event. The newly-released documents, including affidavits, search warrants, and witness accounts, provide chilling insight into the thoughts and beliefs of suspect Robert Card. Witnesses reported that in the days prior to the October 25th attacks, Card believed that people at Schemengees Bar & Grille and Just-In-Time bowling alley were spreading conspiracies online, accusing him of being a pedophile.

According to the documents, Card's mental state was deteriorating, and he was convinced that individuals at the bar and bowling alley were talking about him and spreading false rumors. Witnesses recounted that Card believed the bar manager, Joey Walker, had called him gay, an alleged insult that may have fueled his anger towards the establishment. Additionally, Card had recently broken up with his ex-girlfriend, whom he had met at Schemengees. The documents suggest that his paranoia about being labeled a pedophile may have stemmed from taking her two young daughters out for meals at the bar.

The documents also reveal Card's escalating anger and deteriorating mental health prior to the shooting. His son reported to authorities that his father had become increasingly agitated and paranoid, accusing people of talking about him and calling him a pedophile. The son even suspected that Card might be hearing voices or experiencing paranoia. Other witnesses corroborated these claims, stating that Card had accused soldiers in his Army Reserves unit of calling him a sex offender. The Army sent him for a mental health evaluation in the summer due to these allegations.

Over time, Card's belief in a pedophile conspiracy expanded to include local businesses he frequented, including Schemengees and the bowling alley. Witnesses stated that Card believed these establishments were broadcasting online claims about his alleged pedophilia. He also grew suspicious of some family members, suggesting that the conspiracy had spread to include them as well.

The court documents further depict a timeline of Card's mental decline. After his breakup in February, Card's behavior became increasingly erratic. He experienced significant weight loss, began wearing hearing aids, and started making what witnesses described as "crazy things." In July, he sought treatment at a psychiatric hospital in New York and was prescribed medication. The Army deemed him non-deployable, and local law enforcement requested a welfare check in September due to concerns that he might commit a mass shooting. However, two unsuccessful checks on his home led to the cancellation of the alert on October 18th.

On the evening of October 25th, Card carried out his deadly rampage, targeting the bowling alley first before heading to Schemengees Bar & Grille. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 18 people and injured 13 others. A two-day manhunt ensued before Card's body was found in a trailer at a Lisbon recycling plant, where he had died by suicide. Law enforcement officials discovered a note in his home indicating his intention not to be found alive.

The devastating impact of the shooting on the Lewiston community prompted Card's sister to contact the police within 15 minutes of shots being fired at Schemengees, identifying him as the suspected gunman. The release of these court documents has given the public a glimpse into Card's state of mind and his perceived motive for targeting the bar and bowling alley in what is Maine's first major mass shooting.