Maine Lawmakers Demand Independent Army Probe into Gunman's Brain Injury

The authorities are investigating whether the psychological collapse and violent rampage of Army Reservist Robert Card, who killed 18 people in Maine, may have been linked to brain damage caused by his role as a grenade instructor. Card worked for years at an Army hand grenade training range, where he was exposed to thousands of explosions. The military has only recently started to recognize the potential harm from blast exposure, and studies have shown that artillery soldiers who fired thousands of rounds developed brain injuries. The state medical examiner has sent part of Card's brain for analysis, and Army investigators are looking into the impact of his military work on his mental state.