A Mixed Sense of Relief and Grief as Maine Community Resumes Normalcy Following Discovery of Deceased Shooting Suspect

A palpable wave of relief, tinged with enduring sorrow, washed over central Maine this past Saturday upon learning that the individual responsible for a two-day killing spree had been discovered dead.

For two days, residents of Lewiston and nearby areas had been under directives to remain indoors, following the violent acts attributed to Robert Card. Authorities reported that Card had opened fire at a bowling alley and later at a bar, resulting in the deaths of 18 individuals and injuring an additional 13. His body was subsequently located on Friday at a recycling facility in the adjacent town of Lisbon.

With the lifting of the lockdown, numerous residents ventured outside to savor the pleasant autumn weather. Jim Howaniec, a native of Lewiston and former mayor in the early 1990s, remarked, “Now, the community can start the process of healing and grieving. While the incident lasted 48 hours, the emotional toll felt more like 48 years.”

The episode elicited painful memories for some, like Melissa Brown, who recalled living in Washington, D.C. during a three-week sniper attack in October 2002 that claimed 10 lives. “The recent events resurrected those traumatic emotions, now transferred to this new home of ours,” said Brown. She mentioned that resuming outdoor activities felt liberating, yet she lamented the ongoing sense of tragedy. “While we aim to regain a sense of normalcy, our hearts remain burdened for all those affected.”

As a token of communal support, a family from southern Maine spent Saturday afternoon distributing flowers to strangers in downtown Lewiston. Some recipients politely refused, while others reciprocated with embraces. Gabe Hirst, a 21-year-old from Gray, said, “If even one person’s day is improved, then the effort is fully justified.”

Christal Pele, a local educator, expressed uncertainty about how to address the incident with her students when school resumes. She noted that while the calamity had engendered a newfound sense of community, a mournful atmosphere continues to pervade the locality.

This sentiment was echoed in an anonymous note left on a café table, stating, “We Love You Lewiston. It’s OK to not be OK.”

As residents cautiously reclaim public spaces, the return to normal life is complicated, particularly for those who either lost family members or were eyewitnesses to the attacks. A scheduled community Halloween event at a local armory was repurposed as a family assistance center.

Tammy Asselin, who was present during the bowling alley shooting and sustained injuries in the ensuing chaos, stated that although she felt relief at Card’s demise, the loss of potential insights into his actions brought its own form of sorrow. “We are now embarking on a healing journey, a challenging path, but one that I believe will ultimately make us stronger,” she said.

William Brackett, Sr., who lost his son in the tragedy, spoke of a gradual reduction in his initial anger. “The threat has been eliminated, and this brings me some solace. Yet, full recovery is an elusive goal.”

Reporting was contributed from Concord, New Hampshire by Ramer, with additional contributions from Lewiston by Big Big News journalists Michelle R. Smith, David R. Martin, and Robert Bumsted.

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