What we know about the victims of the mass shootings in Maine
Those killed or wounded in Wednesday night’s horrific mass shootings in Maine include participants at a cornhole tournament at a local bar and bowlers, including in a youth league, out for a night on the lanes.
The night ended in unthinkable tragedy for 31 people who were killed or injured in the violence.
All were shot after US Army Reservist Robert Card stormed into Just-In-Time Recreation Bowl and Schemengees Bar and Grill in Lewiston and opened fire with an assault rifle.
Card, 40, is now the subject of a massive manhunt by local, county, state, and federal law enforcement.
Here’s what we know about the victims:
Bill and Aaron Young, 14
Bill Young and his 14-year-old son Aaron were fatally shot at Just-In-Time while out with their bowling league, Bill’s brother told Reuters.
Before Rob Young found out about the deaths, he flew from Baltimore to Lewiston Thursday to help his sister-in-law as she tried to track down information after not hearing from the pair.
Arthur Strout, 42
Arthur Strout, a 42-year-old father of five, was killed at Schemengees, his father Arthur Barnard told WCVB.
“I left 10 minutes before this happened,” the grieving dad said. “He was supposed to leave with me and he decided he wanted to stay for a couple more games.”
“People loved him. They just loved him.”
Tommy Conrad, 34
Tommy Conrad was a manager at the bowling alley and is survived by his 9-year-old daughter, WMYW reported.
“My nephew loved his daughter more than words can say..We love and will miss You Tommy.. We will all help take care of Caroline,” his aunt wrote on Facebook.
Bob Violette, 76 and Lucille Violette, 73
Violette was a longtime bowling instructor who was teaching youth league voters at Just-In-Time when the shooting started, according to CBS News.
He was a retired Sears mechanic who bowled at the venue most mornings during the week and was in a couples league with his wife, Lucy, the Lewiston Sun Journal said.
Violette was also recently inducted into the Maine Bowling Hall of Fame.
“For as long as I can remember, there wasn’t a kid that he wouldn’t help,” co-worker Brandon Dubuc told CBS. “He was just always a warm presence.”
Tricia Asselin, 53
Asselin, a part-time worker at Just-In-Time, was not working and bowling for fun Wednesday night when the shooter stormed in, her family told CNN.
“What I’m told is that when it all started happening, she ran up to the counter and started to call 911, and that’s when she was shot,” her brother, DJ Johnson told the outlet. “That was just her. She wasn’t going to run. She was going to try and help.
“She and I talked probably three or four times a week and we texted every day,” he said. “Her son was her entire life. From the day he was born to yesterday. She did everything for him … he was her world.”
Asselin was “the rock of the family” and “kept everyone on an even keel,” Johnson said.
“If there was an argument going on, she would be the one to calm everyone down. If somebody was having a bad day, she would be right on the phone to talk to you about it.”
Joseph Walker, 57
Walker was the bar manager at Schemengees Bar and was on duty when the gunman opened fire, just minutes after leaving the bowling alley about four miles away.
His father, Leroy Walker, confirmed that he was among the victims.
“He died as a hero, because he picked up a butcher knife… and he tried to go after the gunman,” the grieving father told NBC’s Lester Holt. “The gunman shot him twice through the stomach.”
When asked if knowing about his son’s brave final act helped ease his grief, Leroy brought his hands to his head and said, “It made it worse!”
Steven Vozzella, 45
Vozzella was participating in a cornhole tournament for deaf adults when the shooting broke out at Schemengees — with his family confirming he was among the dead, CNN said.
According to social media, Vozzella is also deaf, and married his wife, Megan, just last year.
Bryan MacFarlane, 41
MacFarlane, a member of Lewiston’s deaf community, was taking part in the tournament after recently moving back to his native Maine, his family told CNN.
His sister, Keri Brooks, told the outlet her brother was one of the first deaf people to earn his commercial truck driver’s license in Vermont.
“Many states don’t let deaf drive trucks so I’m very proud of him for achieving that,” she said.
She said he drove a rig for several years.
“I grew up in Maine and the deaf community is a tight-knit community,” Brooks said. “Not only was my brother slain but my friends were too.”
Bill Bracket, 44
Bracket was also attending the cornhole tournament at the time of the shooting, his family told ABC.
“I’ll never forget the laughs I had you in when I was trying to learn some sign language at cornhole,” Nick Perry, a friend of the dead man, said in a Facebook Post on Thursday.
Joshua Seal, 35
Seal worked as an American Sign Language interpreter for the Pine Tree Society, his wife, Elizabeth, said on Facebook.
“Not only was he an amazing father, he was a wonderful husband, my best friend and soulmate,” she wrote. “He loved his family and always put them first. That is what he will always be remembered for.
“We love and miss you so so much already, Joshua Alfred Seal.”
Ron Morin, 55
Morin was remembered by his family as an upbeat guy — and a common sight at Taboo Hair Design in Lewiston, where his mom has worked for more than years, the Bangor Daily News reported.
“He was just always smiling, happy,” one relative, Cecile Francoeur, told the outlet. “Just one of those people that if you are having a bad day, he was going to make your day better just by his presence.”
Morin’s family posted a photo of him on Thursday, with the caption, “Rest in Paradise, Ronnie. “This smile and your energy will forever be loved and missed.”
Michael Deslauriers II, 51 and Jason Walker, 51
Deslauriers was shot and killed while bowling with his family and friends at Just-In-Time Recreation, Deslauriers’ father said in a Facebook post on Thursday afternoon.
He and Jason Walker, who were both shot dead in the mass shooting, “made sure their wives and several young children
Maxx Hathaway, 35
Maxx Hathaway, a stay-at-home father of two, was at Schemengees Bar and Grille playing pool with a friend, when the violence erupted.
Hathaway was killed right after his wife, who is eight months pregnant with their third daughter, had left with their toddler daughter who was getting “fussy,” according to the Boston Globe.
He was remembered by his sister, who said his attitude was uplifting and he loved his family.
“He was a goofy, down to earth person, loved to joke around and always had an uplifting attitude no matter what was going on. He loved anime, gaming and loved to play pool,” Kelsay Hathaway said on a GoFundMe page.
“Brenda, the girls, his family and friends meant the world to him and his loss will be felt among the communities that he was apart of and grew up in.”
Among the 13 victims who were wounded in the shooting were:
Thomas Giberti
Thomas Giberti, a worker at Just-In-Time, “risked his life” to help others get away from the barrage of bullets, New England Bowling said in a Facebook post.
He is in the hospital after being shot multiple times in the leg, the group said.
Kenny Moore, who was at the bowling alley, told NewsNation Giberti was one of three men who tried to stop Card when he allegedly began firing.
Zoey Hutchinson, 10
The youngster was part of a youth league bowling team at Just-In-Time when she was grazed in the leg by a bullet and took cover with her mom.
“I never thought I’d go and get a bullet in my leg,” she told ABC News. “Why do people do this?”
“I was more worried about, like, am I going to live?: she said. “Am I going to make it out of here?:
Her mother, Meghan Hutchinson, recalled the horrifying moments when the shots rang out.
“When I turned around I saw the shooter like right behind me,” the mom said.
Justin Karcher, 23
Karcher was critically wounded in the dual mass shootings, and remains on a ventilator in the intensive care unit following emergency surgery, his mother, Jessica Karcher, told reporters.
Four years ago she said her son was traumatized by another shooting when his father was gunned down in front of him in a Walmart parking lot.
Peyton Brewer Ross, 40
Keith Macneir, 64
He was confirmed dead by officials during a press conference on Friday.
