Dozens of survivors and families of victims of the 2023 mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine sued the federal government alleging “negligence” in failing to address “known dangers” from the Army reservist who killed 18 people.

The lawsuit alleged that the gunman, Robert Card, displayed many troubling signs in the months leading up to the shooting, including a clear pattern that was known to the Army.

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“Well before the mass shooting, the Army was aware that Robert Card had classic warnings signs of high risk to himself and the public. The Army’s knowledge; its mandatory processes; its promises to Card’s family, medical providers and local law enforcement; and its actions in undertaking to intervene individually and in combination created a legal duty on the part of the Army to address the risks posed by Card in a reasonable manner,” the suit said.

The lawsuit said there is knowledge of the “unique risks” service members with “mental health crises” pose to “themselves and the public.”

“The Army knew that the combination of mental health deterioration, blast-induced brain injury, access to weapons, and paranoid delusions required immediate and decisive intervention to prevent tragedy,” the suit said. “The Army had mandatory reporting systems, crisis intervention protocols, and state law utilization procedures designed for such situations.”

The plaintiffs are seeking recovery for wrongful deaths, physical injuries, and emotional turmoil that they say could have been prevented. The lawsuit names the Defense Department, the Army and Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, New York. It was filed in federal court in Maine.

The lawyers representing the survivors served legal notices of their intention to sue in October.

“The Army repeatedly broke its promise to protect the community that it pledges to defend and must be held responsible,” Maine attorney Travis Brennan said in a statement.

MAINE SHOOTING: GOV. JANET MILLS ANNOUNCES 18 PEOPLE KILLED IN MASS SHOOTING

At least 18 people were killed and more than 40 injured when the gunman opened fire in a Lewiston, Maine bowling alley, where a children’s league was taking place, and a local bar. The massacre marks one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history.

The Army’s investigation into what occurred leading up to the shooting found multiple communication failures between military and civilian hospitals, as well as with SFC Card’s chain of command. Three reserve officials were disciplined as a result of the investigation.