Heartache, shock in Maine after Lewiston shootings – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

LEWISTON, MAINE (WHDH) – Community members were in shock in and around Lewiston, Maine Thursday after a series of deadly shootings Wednesday night. 

Investigators said 40-year-old Robert Card allegedly first targeted a bowling alley in Lewiston before moving to a restaurant in town around 7 p.m. Maine’s Governor on Thursday morning said at least 18 people were killed. Thirteen people were injured. 

As law enforcement agencies ramped up efforts to find Card, who remained at large, people impacted by the shootings shared their thoughts. 

“My heart is crushed,” the owner of the restaurant said in a statement. “I am at a loss for words. In a split second your world gets turned upside down for no good reason.” 

Officials said seven people were killed at the bowling alley, Just-In-Time Recreation. Eight people died at the restaurant, Schemengees Bar and Grille. Three other people died after being taken to area hospitals.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday said “the full weight” of her administration is behind law enforcement in their efforts to capture Card, who is facing multiple murder warrants linked to the shootings.

“We cannot and we will not rest,” Mills said. 

Maine State Police Colonel William Ross said Card is considered “Armed and dangerous.”

“If you come into contact with this individual or someone that you think looks like this individual, you are to call 911,” Ross said. 

Authorities on Thursday had identified eight of the shooting victims, according to police. While officials continued work to identify additional victims, some family members spoke out. 

The family of 53-year-old Tricia Asselin said she was shot and killed when she ran to call 911 at the bowling alley where she worked.

Another victim, Joseph Walker, was a manager of the Schemengees Bar and Grille restaurant. State police as well as Walker’s father said picked up a knife and went after the gunman to try to stop him.

“That’s when he shot my son to death,” said Walker’s father, Leroy Walker, Sr. “Trying to save some more lives, he ended up losing his life.”

Bryan MacFarlane was participating in a weekly cornhole tournament for the deaf community when he was shot and killed at Schemengees. 

At the bowling alley, the sister of a woman killed in the shooting there told CNN she and her sister had been bowling when they heard “a big bang.” 

“My sister was bowling on another lane than I was, so we were a little bit apart there,” Bobbi Nichols said. “We heard a loud noise and I wasn’t sure what it was until I heard another shot and I knew. 

Nichols said she couldn’t see her sister, adding “Everyone was running.” 

“I got caught in people trampling and running out,” she said. “We just kept running and there were shots fired outside of the building after and we just kept running and running and running.”

The bowling alley issued a statement after Wednesday’s shooting saying “None of this seems real, but unfortunately it is.” 

“We are devastated for our community and our staff,” the statement continued. “We lost some amazing and wholehearted people from our bowling community last night. There are no words to fix this or make it better.” 

The owner of Schemengees continued in their statement.

“We lost great people in this community,” the owner said. “How can we make any sense of this? Sending out prayers to everyone.” 

READ: Latest coverage on shootings in Lewiston and the search for Robert Card

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