Robert Card, suspect of the Wednesday's shootings in Maine leaving over 18 people dead, was admitted to a mental health facility this summer for two weeks by his Army reserve unit's commanding officers. Card reportedly "heard voices" and "threatened to shoot up" a military base.

"So much of this boils down to mental health," said Paul Lukach, Executive Director of the Crime Victim Center. "Prior to this event, [Card] had some interfacing with mental health services."

Lukach says if there were more support for Card after his release from mental health facilities earlier this year, it may have helped to prevent Wednesday's tragedy. 

"We don't, as a community, continue services after someone leaves a residential facility or an ongoing treatment facility," said Lukach. "And we need to do that. We need to support, we need to wrap services around people. We need to have check-ins for people. So when they start feeling a little unstable, a good, qualified person can recognize that and then get them the help they need before something dramatic and horrific like this happens."

"You aren't automatically just okay after you spent three or four or five weeks in a residential facility," continued Lukach. "That's wonderful that you do that. That's fantastic that you have that opportunity. But it doesn't mean that your your personal issues and traumas are over. And if we just release people back into the community without giving the supports that they need, unfortunately, these things are going to continue to happen when people come to their breaking point."

Lukach also calls for more gun control.

"There needs to be better checks and balances," said Lukach. "I'm a hunter. My family [has] hunters. We're from Northwest PA. That's what you do. I'm all about that. But a good person who is buying a weapon and using a weapon for the right reason should have no problems going through qualified checks. Waiting to get their weapon. Having education, which I think Senator Casey and some other senators are promoting right now."

Lukach says anyone who needs mental health help, whether because of a tragedy like this, or to prevent it, can reach out to the Crime Victim Center at (814)455-9414, or call the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988. 

"For anybody who is being triggered by this event because of things that happen in their life, in our community, we want you to come to us and talk to us to the Crime Victim Center or find a qualified counselor to talk through these things," said Lukach. "This can be very triggering. This can be very emotional, even from miles and miles away."