Mixed Feelings of Relief and Sorrow as Maine Community Emerges After Shooting Suspect Found Deceased

A wave of relief coupled with underlying sorrow enveloped central Maine this Saturday following the announcement that the suspected gunman, accused of killing 18 people, had been discovered dead.

Inhabitants of Lewiston and neighboring municipalities had been cautioned to remain indoors since the night of Wednesday, after authorities identified Robert Card as the individual who initiated fatal shootings at a local bowling alley and subsequently a bar, leaving an additional 13 people injured. Card’s lifeless body was located on Friday at a recycling facility in the nearby town of Lisbon.

With the lifting of the lockdown, many individuals seized the opportunity to spend time outdoors on what proved to be a balmy autumn day.

Jim Howaniec, a lifelong resident of Lewiston and a former mayor during the early 1990s, commented, “We now have the space to begin recovering and start the mourning process. For 48 hours, we were suspended in a state of uncertainty—though a brief period, it felt interminably long.”

Melissa Brown, who likened the experience to the 2002 sniper attacks in Washington, D.C., expressed similar sentiments. “The ordeal resurfaced past traumas and instilled new fears in the place we now consider home,” she said. Brown welcomed the opportunity to engage in morning outdoor activities but maintained, “Our aspiration to live without trepidation remains overshadowed by the gravity of the recent events. Our sympathies lie deeply with all who are affected.”

A family of four from southern Maine took it upon themselves to distribute flowers to random individuals in downtown Lewiston. While some declined their offerings, others reciprocated with embraces. “If even one individual finds solace through this act, it validates our effort,” stated Gabe Hirst, 21, of Gray.

Local educator Christal Pele expressed reservations about how to discuss the tragedy with her students. She observed that while the community appeared more cordial in the aftermath, a prevailing sense of sadness was palpable.

In an act signifying the lingering gloom, an anonymous individual left a note on a café table, reading: “We Love You Lewiston. It’s OK to not be OK.”

For those who either lost dear ones or were direct witnesses to the dreadful events, normality seemed an elusive state. A planned community Halloween event at a local armory was repurposed into a family assistance center.

Tammy Asselin, who was present during the bowling alley attack, revealed that while relieved by the news of Card’s demise, she also mourned the loss of potential understanding. “We are now commencing the healing journey, a challenging but ultimately strengthening experience,” she said.

As dusk settled, approximately 150 individuals convened for a candlelight vigil in a grassy field in Lisbon Falls, close to where Card’s body was discovered. Joey Rossignol, a new resident of Lisbon, noted his prior experience with the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013, stating, “I never anticipated experiencing a similar form of lockdown in Maine.”

Earlier on Saturday, William Brackett Sr., whose son was among the casualties, found his longstanding anger beginning to dissipate. “The realization that the suspect is no longer a threat brings a modicum of relief,” he noted, “although full recovery remains an elusive goal.”

Reporting from Concord, New Hampshire, was contributed by Ramer. Additional coverage was provided by Big Big News journalists Michelle R. Smith, David R. Martin, and Robert Bumsted from Lewiston.

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