Lewiston, Maine marks one year since the mass shooting

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Elizabeth Seal, whose husband Joshua was killed in the deadliest shooting in Maine history, told a mourning crowd Friday that the tragedy that rocked her town a year ago also created a community that has only gotten stronger over time.

“These connections, like a spider web, are beautiful. I wish it didn't take a tragedy to discover these connections,” Seal said through an American Sign Language interpreter, adding that the community would “remain strong in Lewiston forever.”

Seal made the remarks at a memorial service that drew more than 1,000 people to the city's hockey arena, The Colisée, for Maine residents whose sense of security was shattered last year by the city's hockey arena mass shooting marked the anniversary.

The Killing of 18 people by an army reservist In Lewiston, we realized that no corner of the country is safe from gun violence, even in a state where people often boast about low crime rates.

During Friday night's ceremony, mourners observed two minutes of silence, just as the shootings occurred at two different locations.

At the event, some people held teddy bears distributed by the American Red Cross. There were 18 chairs at the front of the stage, each with a blue heart with a victim's name on it, as well as a candle and white flowers. Each victim's name was read aloud and an image was projected on video screens.

A local museum collected memorabilia and other items related to the tragedy. Among the items left behind was a single shoe belonging to a survivor who lost his shoe the night of the shooting. Other items included a pair of bowling shoes.

Arthur Barnard, the father of shooting victim Artie Strout, said earlier Friday that it was a day of mourning for his family and others, but also a day of action as part of the campaign for stronger risk protection regulations in the state.

“Nothing can bring Artie back. But we can try to ensure that no other family has to suffer what mine did,” Barnard said in a statement.

The Oct. 25, 2023, shootings occurred at a bowling alley and a cornhole tournament hosted by a bar and grill. The shooter died by suicide and his The body was found two days later.

At the high school, which became a command post with helicopters on athletic fields and hundreds of police vehicles in the parking lot, students marked the anniversary with a moment of silence.

“We will never forget the unimaginable pain and loss that this terrible day brought,” Superintendent Jake Langlais said in a statement. But he added: “A lot of good has happened since that terrible day.”

Justin Juray, owner of the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley where the shooting began, said the venue was closed Friday so employees could be with their families.

“We don’t need work that adds to their stress,” he said. Juray and his wife Samantha, The bowling alley reopened in Maysix months after the shooting. Two employees were among the eight people killed there.

The Associated Press broadcast the ceremony live Friday evening.

According to the state victim protection director, a total of more than 130 people were present at the two locations. In addition to the 18 killed, there were 13 wounded by gunfire and 20 non-gunshot wounds.

Seal and dozens of other survivors and relatives of the victims recently began the formal process Lawsuit against the US Army Because what they say was a failure to stop 40-year-old reservist Robert Card.

President Joe Biden tweeted that he and the first lady were sending “love and prayers” to those who suffered a loss in Lewiston. “And I recommit to doing everything in my power to end the gun violence epidemic,” he said.

At the state level, the Maine Legislature responded to the shootings with passivity new gun laws that strengthened the state “Yellow Flag” Law.criminalized the transfer of weapons to prohibited persons and expanded resources for the treatment of mental health crises.

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Associated Press photojournalists Robert F. Bukaty, Rodrique Ngowi and Nick Perry contributed to this report.