AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An Army reservist and friend of the gunman behind Maine’s deadliest mass shooting testified Thursday about his friend’s mental decline, describing publicly for the first time the warning he issued a month before the tragedy unfolded.

Sean Hodgson texted leaders of his reserve unit six weeks before the shooting that left 18 people dead and 13 wounded, telling them to change the passcode to the gate at their Army Reserve training facility and arm themselves if Robert Card showed up.

Hodgson told a panel investigating the mass shooting on Thursday that he issued the warning to superiors after Card’s delusional and violent behavior spiraled and ended with Card punching him in the face.

“I said ‘Just so you know, I love you. I’ll always be there for you. I won’t give up on you.’ He had that blank stare on his face. It was a dead stare and he drove away,” Hodgson recounted as his friend left him at a gas station.

The attacks happened six months ago, on Oct. 25, when Card opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, two locations where he held a delusional belief that people were talking about him behind his back. Two days later, the 40-year-old Reservist was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Hodgson told superiors on Sept. 15: “I believe he’s going to snap and do a mass shooting.”

But it wasn’t just Hodgson who was worried about Card. Several other reservists witnessed his deterioration during training last summer. That led to a two-week hospitalization in July for Card, months after relatives warned police he had grown paranoid and that they were concerned about his access to guns.

The failure of authorities to remove Card’s weapons in the weeks before the shooting has become the subject of a monthslong investigation in the state, which also has passed new gun safety laws since the tragedy.

In an interim report released last month, an independent commission launched by Gov. Janet Mills concluded that the Sagadahoc County sheriff’s office had probable cause under Maine’s “yellow flag” law to take Card into custody and seize his guns. It also criticized police for not following up with Hodgson about his warning text. A final report is expected this summer.

On Thursday, Hodgson said he warned of a mass shooting because Card threatened multiple members of the unit with violence and that his threats and delusions were escalating. And he had access to guns.

“The way he was behaving was very threatening. It was escalating. The totality of the circumstances, the events leading to that moment, I was pretty convinced he was going to cause harm,” he said.

Another reservist, Daryl Reed, testified he witnessed Card’s mental and physical decline firsthand, seeing a “normal guy” who successfully traded stocks and loved hunting and the outdoors become increasingly paranoid and believing others were calling him a pedophile.

Card also acquired a thermal scope with a laser range finder that he said cost $10,000, and he demonstrated how it could be used to detect animals, including at night, Reed said.

He added fellow reservists started to become concerned Card could become a danger to colleagues. They were surprised, several testified, when Card was released from a psychiatric hospital after only two weeks.

In an exclusive series of interviews in January, Hodgson told The Associated Press he met Card in the Army Reserve in 2006 and that they became close friends after both divorced their spouses around the same time. They lived together for about a month in 2022, and when Card was hospitalized in New York in July, Hodgson drove him back to Maine.

Growing increasingly worried about his friend’s mental health, Hodgson warned authorities after Card started “flipping out” after a night of gambling, pounding the steering wheel and nearly crashing multiple times. After ignoring his pleas to pull over, Card punched him in the face, Hodgson said.

“It took me a lot to report somebody I love,” he said. “But when the hair starts standing up on the back of your neck, you have to listen.”

Some officials downplayed Hodgson’s warning, suggesting he might have been drunk because of the late hour of his text. Army Reserve Capt. Jeremy Reamer, the commanding officer of the reserve unit, described him as “not the most credible of our soldiers” and said his message should be taken “with a grain of salt.”

Hodgson said he struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol addiction but said he wasn’t drinking that night and was awake because he works nights and was waiting for his boss to call.

“I grieve every day for the many lives that are lost for no reason and those that are still affected today,” he told the AP earlier this month.

Cara Cookson, director of victim services for the Maine Office of the Attorney General, also testified Thursday and described through tears the daunting task of responding to the enormity of the tragedy with a “patchwork of resources.”

On Thursday evening, the Maine Resiliency Center, which provides support to people affected by the killings, held a six-month commemoration event that drew several hundred people to a park in Lewiston.

The names of the 18 people who died were read aloud at the start of the ceremony, and there were 18 empty chairs, each with a candle and a blue heart, honoring the victims.

The governor also acknowledged the anniversary.

“Our hearts are still healing, and the road to healing is long, but we will continue to walk it together,” Mills said in a statement.

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. —Two Minnesota cousins are hitting the pedal to the metal.

Karina Schindler and Britta Swanson are training for a 1,600-mile bike ride from Minnesota to Maine.

“You know, it was going to be a boring summer anyway,” Schindler joked. “Might as well just find something to fill the days.”

The three-week trip isn’t without purpose. They’re partnering with World Bicycle Relief, a nonprofit that aims to empower and mobilize low-income regions through bikes. They hope to raise $30,000.

“Thirty-thousand seems like, that’s like, that’s a lot of money,” Swanson said. “But might as well shoot for it!”

That amount would be enough to donate 180 life-changing bicycles.

“It just impacts the entire community as well. So it’s more than just 180 people being helped, it’s 180 communities being helped all over the world,” Schindler said.

Their inspiration stems from their late grandfather and avid biker, Richard Schindler.

“He was such a cool person, and we are so excited to honor him through this as well,” Karina Schindler said.

Richard Schindler took on his own cross-country bicycle trip with a group of buddies nearly 13 years ago from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. They raised money for the Hormel Institute of Austin.

“He and his friends are definitely a huge inspiration. And because they were like, they were all in their late 60s too when they did it,” Swanson said. “And they did it from coast to coast! So it’s twice as far as what Karina and I will be doing.”

Before they hit the pavement, there are finals, and Swanson’s graduation from the University of Minnesota Duluth. 

“No time like the present, I guess,” Swanson said. “You know, you can always make excuses for why things don’t work out.” 

It’s a mission they are determined to make work, one mile at a time. 

“Knowing that it’s not just individuals, but it’s also communities and families,” Swanson said. 

“As soon as we hit the Atlantic Ocean, it’s going to be like, ‘Wow, we did something really cool,’” Karina Schindler said. 

Plus, a great view and a cold beer will be waiting for them.

Swanson and Schindler are funding their own travels. They plan to donate 100% of the proceeds they raise towards World Bicycle Relief. You can follow the duo’s travels on Instagram.

It’s been almost a month since I made the journey across the US from Los Angeles to Maine, and WOW, what a culture shock. Maine is absolutely beautiful along with its residents, but there has been A LOT to learn. Here are 5 significant things about Vacationland that have stood out against anywhere else that I have been.

Very Few People Live in Maine

There are only 1.32 million people who live in the entire state of Maine. While that may seem like no small number to those who have grown up here, for me, in comparison, I just moved from Orange County, California. In that county alone, which is one of the smallest in the state of California, there are approximately 3.19 million people. That is nearly three times as many people in Maine.

Maine Traffic is Nearly Nonexistent

Maine is ranked near the top of the best states for driving. Where I just moved from, California is consistently ranked the absolute worst in America. This has been the most SHOCKING difference. It takes me 5 minutes to get to work and I can cross any street with ease. Granted, tourism in the summer in Maine makes the roads a little more hectic here but pales in comparison to the everyday life of driving in SoCal.

Mainers REALLY Love Their Lobsta

Or “lobsta!” It is EVERYWHERE! I’m not complaining either. Maine is the #1 state for lobster harvesting. Mainers bring in 110 MILLION pounds of lobster annually. WHAT?! Do you know how many screaming lobsters in a pot that is?! Lobsters provide almost a billion dollars a year for the state.

Ticks in Maine Really Tick Me Off

While there is A LOT to love about Maine, the tick thing is a little concerning. I’ve heard mixed reports on the ticks issue here. While some say to be very careful, other residents have shared that they’ve never had a tick on them in their lives.

It seems to be more of an issue for those who love the outdoors and own pets, which I am both. I have a vet appointment next week for our dogs and I don’t think I’ll be wearing shorts while hiking this summer. It’s amazing how my hypochondria emerged because of a tiny bug. Maine, by the way, is the 7th worst state for these bloodsuckers.

You are BEAUTIFUL, Maine!

Ok, some make the argument that where I just moved from is the most beautiful state in the country. While I agree that California is beautiful, it’s hard not to argue that Maine should be higher on the list. California has a lot to offer and is worth visiting. I’ve been fortunate enough to see almost all 50 states in this great country, and after just a month in Maine, I’m going to rank this state at #1. I can’t wait to explore everything that she has to offer. If you need me this summer, I’ll most likely be in Acadia, covered head to toe to avoid those ticks.

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