Brain Analysis Of Maine Mass Shooter Reveals Traumatic Brain Injuries

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — An Army reservist who shot and killed 18 people in Maine last year had evidence of traumatic brain injuries, according to a brain tissue analysis by researchers from Boston University.

There was degeneration in the nerve fibers that allow for communication between different areas of the brain, inflammation and small blood vessel injury, according to Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center. The analysis was released Wednesday by the family of reservist Robert Card.

Card had been an instructor at an Army hand grenade training range, where it is believed he was exposed to repeated low-level blasts. It is unknown if that caused Card’s brain injury and what role brain injury played in Card’s decline in mental health. McKee made no connection between the brain injury and Card’s violent actions.

“While I cannot say with certainty that these pathological findings underlie Mr. Card’s behavioral changes in the last 10 months of life, based on our previous work, brain injury likely played a role in his symptoms,” McKee said in the statement.

The Pentagon is working to better understand the relationship between “blast overpressure” and brain health effects. An Army spokesperson didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.

In their first public comments since the shooting, Card’s family members also apologized for the attack in the statement, saying they are heartbroken for the victims, survivors and their loved ones.

Army reservists who knew Card will testify Thursday before a special commission investigating the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history.

The commission, established by Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, is reviewing the facts surrounding the Oct. 25