Maine
The Maine mass shooter’s CTE test highlights a much bigger issue
On 25 October, Robert Card carried out America’s deadliest mass shooting of 2023 in Lewiston, Maine.
The Wednesday evening attack left 18 people dead and 13 wounded at a bowling alley and nearby bar, before the suspected gunman was found dead near a river 10 miles outside of Lewiston.
In the weeks that followed, news emerged that Card struggled with his mental health and was exhibiting aggression and paranoia in the lead-up to the shooting — and that his family warned law enforcement something needed to be done.
Amid a search for answers to explain the senseless atrocity — by those who knew Card, investigators, the Lewiston community and the public at large — came speculation that he may have suffered from a brain disorder called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repetitive head trauma.
Personal accounts from those who knew him and interviews with experts suggest he may have sustained brain damage during his time in the military, according to a New York Times report. Two soldiers who served with Card also told the newspaper that army investigators have asked whether his time in the service could have altered his mental state.
Card’s brain is currently under examination by Boston University CTE Center to determine whether he had the disorder. A spokesperson told The Independent that the results won’t be available for six to eight months.
Psychiatric symptoms, such as paranoia, impulsivity and increased aggression have been observed in patients with confirmed or probable CTE, according to a peer-reviewed study from 2017. However, despite a widespread narrative that often correlates mental illness with violence, the data is clear: the vast majority of violence is not related to a perpetrator’s mental health.
The Independent spoke to experts about why this misconception persists, the effect of cases like Card’s and the broader fight to end a harmful stigma.
Understanding CTE
CTE is a type of brain damage caused by repeated head trauma — and it is 100 per cent preventable, Chris Nowinski, neuroscientist and CEO of The Concussion Legacy Foundation, told The Independent.
It is most often associated with people who play high-impact sports like football — and, increasingly, people who served in the military, as Card did. What makes CTE particularly difficult to understand is that it can’t be definitively diagnosed until an autopsy.
People with CTE typically experience progressive cognitive symptoms, Mr Nowinski said. Those symptoms include issues with executive functioning — such as issues following through on tasks — as well as short-term memory problems that can progress into larger memory problems.
In mid-life, patients may develop mental health symptoms, according to Mr Nowinski.
As the 2017 study suggests, CTE patients can develop paranoia and aggression, Mr Nowinski said, as Card purportedly did leading up to the Lewiston shooting.
However, the jury is still out on the exact relationship between CTE and psychiatric symptoms.
“What’s not as clear is if CTE pathology specifically is related to psychiatric symptoms or if it’s other aspects of traumatic brain injuries that have caused CTE that might be more associated with those behaviours — for example, long-term inflammation in the brain,” Mr Nowinski said.
Misperceived link between mental illness and violence
A widely cited, peer-reviewed study from 2015 indicated the vast majority of violent behaviour is caused by factors other than a mental health condition. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health’s Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey found the risk of violence associated with serious mental illness alone to be 4 per cent, according to the study.
“Epidemiologic studies show that the large majority of people with serious mental illnesses are never violent,” the study reads.
The survey sought to debunk claims from “both sides” of the spectrum, according to the study. “The ECA study thus debunked claims on both extremes of the debate about violence and mental illness—from the stigma-busting advocates on the one side who insisted that mental illness had no intrinsic significant connection to violence at all, and from the fearmongers on the other side who asserted that the mentally ill are a dangerous menace and should be locked up; both views were wrong,” the study reads.
“The facts showed that people with serious mental illnesses are, indeed, somewhat more likely to commit violent acts than people who are not mentally ill, but the large majority are not violent toward others,” the authors continue.
Harold Kudler, an Associate Consulting Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, said the unfounded association between violence and mental illness creates a harmful stigma.
“They are our neighbours, our friends and our family members,” he continued. “It’s a terrible thing to see them isolated by myths and fear.”
Jeffrey Swanson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine and one of the authors of the 2015 study, told The Independent the association in part stems from people seeking an explanation for a horrific event.
“[Mass shootings] are so disturbing, so frightening, and so irrational, that we want to know why this happened,” he continued.
A spokesperson for the Boston University CTE Center told The Independent they’re hoping to do just that: give people answers in the wake of Card’s horrific violence.
“The reason further testing is being conducted on Mr. Card’s brain is that in an event such as this, people are left with more questions than answers,” the spokesperson said. “It is our belief that if we can conduct testing (in-house or outsourced) that may shed light on some of those answers, we have a responsibility to do that.”
While there are some instances where mental health symptoms can coalesce to increase people’s risk of violence — such as what many suspect to be Card’s case — the vast majority of people with mental illness are still never violent, according to Mr Swanson.
“It doesn’t mean that there aren’t cases where certain kinds of symptoms, like a combination of hostility, impulsivity, exacerbated threat perception…and substance intoxication will increase people’s relative risk of violence,” Mr Swanson said. “But all of the kinds of risk factors that we have to predict it are nonspecific, and they tend to apply to many more people who are not going to do the thing you’re trying to prevent.”
“It’s frustrating if you’re an advocate for better mental health care, and the only time you get to talk about it is when there’s a horrible mass shooting by somebody who’s really atypical of people with mental illness, as the vast majority will never do anything like that,” he added.
However, mental illness is “strongly associated” with an increased risk of death by suicide, according to the 2015 study. In 2021, death by suicide made up more than half of firearm-related fatalities in the United States.
Tangible solutions to curbing violence
As a result, to prevent the risk of violence and death by suicide, the study’s authors recommended “an emphasis on time-sensitive risk for violence or suicide” as the foundation of “evidence-based criteria for prohibiting firearms access.”
This policy is already in place in 21 states and Washington, DC. Dubbed “red flag” laws, they allow a judge to temporarily stop people from having guns if they could be a risk to themselves or others. While they differ state-by-state, they typically allow those close to the person in question to apply for an emergency order against them. If a judge approves it, they lose access to their firearms.
Mr Swanson said a key component of these laws is that, typically, the temporary removal does not carry a criminal penalty.
“It’s temporary, and it’s not criminalising, it doesn’t confer any kind of a criminal record or sanction,” he said.
Mr Swanson called these red flag policies a “great success.”
Meanwhile, Maine has a “yellow flag” law — the only one of its kind. The state passed it in 2020, just three years before the Lewiston shooting. After someone close to the person in question reports concerns about their behaviour, the police have to take them into protective custody. Police then can choose to ask a judge to temporarily halt the person’s access to firearms.
In the months leading up to the shooting, Card’s family and US military officials raised alarms about his increasing paranoia and aggressive behaviour. Yet, he was never taken into protective custody or given the mental health evaluation needed to trigger Maine’s yellow flag law, ABC News reported.
Supporting CTE patients
Much of Mr Nowinski’s work at The Concussion Legacy Foundation is focused on identifying resources for patients who may have CTE and their families. He said it’s essential to educate people about CTE because it can help prevent a disease that is 100 per cent avoidable.
Mr Kudler, who is an expert on veteran mental health care, says he’s an advocate for a model of care that integrates inpatient and outpatient mental healthcare systems, a method that is already used in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare system.
“The mental health system is divided into inpatient and outpatient systems, and they have different hierarchies,” Mr Kudler said. “But in VA, it is all integrated and then integrated again into primary care. It is as close to an ideal mental health system as exists in our country.”
For Mr Nowinski, educating people about CTE is a key factor in preventing it.
“We need to talk about it publicly,” he said. “And we need to talk about preventing it and making better choices.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Michael Capeci is the former chairman of the Bangor GOP.
Let’s be honest about Maine’s current state.
For many families, the cost of living has become unsustainable. Housing is out of reach for many young people. Energy bills keep rising. Many small businesses are struggling under taxes and regulations that make it harder to grow. Rural hospitals are under strain and despite years of increased state spending, the results are not showing up in people’s daily lives.
Concurrently, Maine continues to lose young workers to other states. That is not a statistic, it is a warning sign.
To me, the question in this Republican primary for governor is not about slogans. It is whether we continue with a political approach that has failed to reverse these trends, or whether we nominate someone with new ideas. I think that someone is Owen McCarthy.
Owen is not a political insider. He is an entrepreneur from Patten, a small town where opportunity is not assumed, it is built. He grew up in a working-class family, became the first in his family to graduate from college graduating from the University of Maine, and founded MedRhythms, a healthcare technology company focused on neurological treatment.
He didn’t just talk about opportunity. He built it. That distinction matters, because Maine’s problem is not a lack of debate it is a lack of results. We have seen the trajectory: higher costs, slower growth, and a steady outmigration of young workers. I believe Owen McCarthy represents a break from that pattern.
His Maine 2040 plan focuses on creating 50,000 new jobs in sectors where Maine has real advantages — maritime and defense, advanced forest products, and life sciences. These are export-driven industries tied directly to Maine’s workforce, geography, and institutions. What sets Owen apart is not only what he proposes, but how he approaches governing.
He prioritizes modernizing permitting so projects do not stall. He supports using technology to reduce costs and increase efficiency. He focuses on making it easier to build, hire, and expand in Maine.
That same practical mindset extends to healthcare. Expanding telehealth, strengthening EMS systems, improving provider flexibility, and shifting toward earlier intervention are not abstract reforms. They are system upgrades designed to improve access while controlling costs.
Maine voters consistently respond to competence. They reward candidates who understand problems and present plans to solve them. I believe they are tired of rhetoric that does not translate into results, and skeptical of politics that prioritizes messaging over execution.
Owen’s approach is grounded in solving the issues that shape daily life — affordability, healthcare access, job creation, and government efficiency. That is not just policy positioning. It is a governing model that speaks directly to voters.
Some will point to his lack of political experience. But I believe Maine’s core problems are not the result of insufficient political experience; they are the result of policies that have failed to deliver measurable improvement. Experience inside a broken system, by itself, is not a solution.
If Republicans want to win, this primary must be taken seriously. From my perspective, it is not about choosing a nominee for governor who can energize the base. It is about selecting someone who can compete in a broader electorate that is frustrated and looking for change.
That requires a candidate who can speak beyond the base, not by abandoning principles, but by demonstrating competence and a credible plan to address Maine’s challenges. I believe Owen McCarthy offers that combination. He represents a shift away from managed decline and toward economic execution.
This is not just another primary. It is a decision about whether Republicans position themselves to win Maine or whether they remain trapped in a cycle of repeating the same strategies and expecting different outcomes.
If Republicans want to compete for Maine’s future, they cannot afford to nominate a candidate who only motivates part of the electorate. They need someone who expands it.
I believe Owen McCarthy is that candidate.
And if the goal is to win Maine, then the choice should be unmistakable
The only notable change in the top-seven of the Varsity Maine baseball poll is that Gorham now has eight first-place votes, two more than last week. The order of the seven teams is identical. In fact, the only change in the top-seven over the past three polls is the swap at the top after Gorham’s win over South Portland on May 19.
Furthermore, Gorham, South Portland, Oxford Hills, Cheverus, Bangor, Mt. Ararat and Fryeburg have been ranked in the top seven for four straight weeks, and six of those squads have been among the top seven in every poll this spring.
Meanwhile, Scarborough is ranked for the first time since May 5, and Ellsworth and Thornton swapped spots.
The Varsity Maine baseball poll is based on games played before June 2, 2026. The top 10 teams are voted on by the Varsity Maine staff, with first-place votes in parentheses, followed by total points.
1. Gorham (8) 89
2. South Portland 79
3. Oxford Hills (1) 75
4. Cheverus 55
5. Bangor 42
6. Mt. Ararat 41
7. Fryeburg Academy 30
8. Ellsworth 27
9. Thornton Academy 25
10. Scarborough 12
Also receiving votes: Washington Academy 8, Monmouth Academy 4, Cony 4, Leavitt 2, Falmouth 2.
Harbormasters are the municipal protectors of Maine’s 5,300-mile coastline, where a single day might include tasks as diverse as saving a sinking skiff, sorting a same-day mooring request and seizing undersized quahogs.
The job has existed for more than a century, but a buzzworthy political campaign and a heated lobster turf war have elevated this obscure government position to a new level of visibility in the public discourse, even if few people know what they really do.
“No day is the same,” says Daryen Granata, harbormaster and shellfish warden for Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth. “Ride in my truck or my boat for a week, and I can practically guarantee you that we wouldn’t do the same thing twice.”
Graham Platner used his $3,000-a-year gig as Sullivan’s former harbormaster to help frame his run for U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, South Thomaston hopes that hiring a harbormaster can resolve a dispute over dock access that some lobstermen say threatens their livelihoods.
Beyond the headlines, however, the duties of Maine’s 250 or so harbormasters vary from town to town. Some are highly paid police officers with arrest powers; others are seasonal mooring managers, like Platner was before he resigned in August, according to the town manager.
“Most people doing this job aren’t doing it for the money,” says Granata, who is vice president of the Maine Harbor Masters Association. “They’re doing it to be a steward, to be an ambassador of the harbor.”
Platner, who operates an oyster harvesting business, said he took the post to make sure the person hired to “run the show” had local waterfront experience. He said he was “bummed” that he had to give up the role due to his campaign schedule.
“There is something to be said about working-class folks coming together over the water despite their differences, all with the same goal in mind — to protect and preserve their way of life,” he said.
South Thomaston was one of Maine’s rare shoreline communities that had resisted hiring a harbormaster. Residents preferred to solve their own problems to keep their mooring prices artificially low. But that changed when a lobster turf war broke out.
The town is now advertising for a per-diem harbormaster to resolve the dispute.
A typical day for Granata might start by answering office emails at 7 a.m. and end with a 5 p.m. radio call about a boat sinking off Prouts Neck. In between, he juggles calls for illegal fishing, a shark sighting and a boat diesel spill, all while juggling walk-ins.
One of the most time-consuming parts of a harbormaster’s job, regardless of whether they are a police officer or a seasonal volunteer, is managing the vessel placements, or moorings, in their local harbor, Granata said.
Maine has more than 30,000 moorings. Small harbors may have a couple dozen, but larger ones can have up to 1,300. The harbormaster ensures each one is in the proper location with enough depth for a boat’s draft and enough anchor to hold it in place.
Unlike their counterparts in warmer climates, Maine harbormasters face a seasonal scramble. Because of winter ice, most of the state’s moorings must be pulled ashore in the fall and reset each spring to avoid being dragged around by moving ice.
The role is also one of public safety. Harbormasters coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard and Maine Marine Patrol on search-and-rescue operations, monitor for navigational hazards, and inspect critical marine infrastructure like piers, docks and cranes.
In Portland, harbormaster Paul Plummer and his six seasonal deputies spend a lot of time keeping Portland Harbor safe — from marine debris that could cause accidents, from environmental threats, and from commercial-recreational boating conflicts.
His office escorts big commercial vessels through the busy harbor to protect the people in kayaks and sailboats that fill it up during the summer, many of whom are not familiar with Maine landmarks and water rules, Plummer said.
“We are out in the harbor and visit the islands every day,” Plummer said. “It’s not just to protect boats, but also the fragile working waterfront infrastructure. We have a lot of old piers and wharves that require a lot of care but are critical to our economy.”
Despite these differences, state law requires all harbormasters to get certification through the Maine Harbor Masters Association within a year of taking the job. The four-day certification must be renewed every three years.
Success in the role requires more than a technical knowledge of shackles and swivels, Granata said. Harbormasters must be able to shift from “swearing like a pirate” with a lobsterman to politely guiding a Vineyard Vines-clad tourist to a local luncheon spot.
“You can’t be down here being a stiff shirt,” Granata says. “This job is crazy, but it’s a privilege. Drinking straight from the hose, every day. You never get a break, not really, but you never get bored, either.”
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