Maine authorities have released the names of all 18 victims of Wednesday's mass shootings in Lewiston.
Friday night, Gov. Janet Mills and law enforcement officials said the suspected killer had been found dead in Lisbon. At a press conference earlier in the day, Commissioner Mike Sauschuck of the Maine Department of Public Safety revealed the identities of those killed at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley and Schemengees Bar and Grille. The victims' ages range from 14 to 76.
- Ronald G. Morin, 55
- Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40
- Joshua A. Seal, 36
- Bryan M. MacFarlane, 41
- Joseph Lawrence Walker, 57
- Arthur Fred Strout, 42
- Maxx A. Hathaway, 35
- Stephen M. Vozzella, 45
- Thomas Ryan Conrad, 34
- Michael R. Deslauriers II, 51
- Jason Adam Walker, 51
- Tricia C. Asselin, 53
- William A. Young, 44
- Aaron Young, 14
- Robert E. Violette, 76
- Lucille M. Violette, 73
- William Frank Brackett, 48
- Keith D. Macneir, 64
"The victims of this tragedy are our family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. It is often said that our state is 'one big, small town' because Maine is such a closeknit community," Gov. Janet Mills said in a statement. "As a result, many of us know the victims personally, including me, who lost a friend in Josh Seal, who Maine people fondly remember from his service as an ASL interpreter during our COVID-19 briefings. I am heartbroken for the families of these victims, including Aaron Young who was just fourteen years old."
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Mills encouraged Mainers to learn more about those killed and honor them.
"Tonight, I ask Maine people to join me in reading their stories, learning who they were, celebrating them as beloved people, and mourning them as irreplaceable," she said. "My heart continues to go out to those who are recovering from their injuries, and we remain committed to seeking justice for all those impacted by this unspeakable tragedy."
Local
Following the shooting, some of the victims' loved ones revealed details of their lives. Here's what's been shared:
BOB VIOLETTE: Retiree Bob Violette, 76, devoted himself to his volunteer job coaching the youth bowling league that was practicing Wednesday night, said Patrick Poulin, whose teenage son has been a member for three years.
"He's taught so many people over the years how to bowl, and he wasn't getting paid," he said. "We've really been focused on trying to keep the sport alive, and Bob was really an integral part of that."
Two weeks ago, Poulin was at the bowling center with his son and offered him some tips. His son resisted, but eventually took the advice and bowled a great game.
"You gave him some good instructions, so when are you going to get out here and coach with me?" Violette asked him.
Poulin replied that he'd have to think about it. Asked Thursday if he'd consider it now, he said, "Someone's got to step back in."
Friday, authorities identified Bob's wife, LUCILLE VIOLETTE, as also being among the dead.
Lucille Violette was kind and caring, according to a GoFundMe page set up by the family, and she worked for Lewiston schools for about 50 years.
The couple is survived by their three sons — Andrew, Tom and John Violette — as well as their daughter-in-law, Cassandra, and six grandchildren, the GoFundMe said.
MICHAEL DESLAURIERS II and JASON WALKER: Michael Deslauriers Sr. confirmed in interviews and on social media that his son was one of those killed at Just-In-Time Recreation.
He said Michael Deslauriers II and his friend, Jason Walker, were killed at the bowling alley.
"They made sure their wives and several young children were under cover then they charged the shooter," Deslauriers wrote in a post on the Sabattus Historical Society's Facebook page.
JOSEPH WALKER: Joe Walker was the bar manager at Schemengees Bar and Grille. His father, Auburn City Councilor Leroy Walker, told NBC News on Thursday that his son was shot twice in the stomach as he went after the gunman with a butcher knife.
"He died as a hero," he said.
Waiting for confirmation of his worst fears Wednesday night, Walker told the network he felt like his guts and neck were being "squashed with a vice."
"And I don't know, telling you the truth, what kind of night this is going to be from now until tomorrow when I wake up to the true facts that my son is dead -- and I know he's dead," he said. "I know it as well as I know I'm standing here telling you because he's not here and he's not at any other hospital and he's not running the streets or he would have called us, because he manages Schemengees, so I know he was there."
BILL and AARON YOUNG: Bill Young and his 14-year-old son, Aaron, were among those killed in the shooting, a family member told NBC News.
Kim McConville, a cousin from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, said family members had pinged Bill's cellphone to the bowling alley. She described the panic her family felt while trying to reach the victims.
"It's total chaos," she said during an interview with NBC News before she found out her loved ones had died. "People aren't getting any of the information they need. You know, it's there. They're not getting anything new. They're not telling them any more than we're getting off a news conference."
Winthrop Public Schools sent a message to the school community saying they had sadly learned that a freshman at the high school and his dad were among those killed.
"This is tremendous tragedy for our area, our town, our students, and everyone. This is uncharted territory," Superintendent Jim Hodgkin wrote, sharing that crisis teams would meet with school staff ahead of students arrival on Monday, Oct. 30. "My heart is broken by this and I implore you all to be patient with everyone through this process. This is going to be a process that will take a long time."
A GoFundMe page described Aaron as a gentle and thoughtful kid who enjoyed bowling, watching "Family Guy" and doing anything his dad was doing. Bill was described as a hardworking man, the breadwinner for his family who always tried to make people laugh and enjoy life to the fullest.
Bill Young is survived by his wife Cindy and daughters Lauren and Kayla.
BILLY BRACKETT, JOSHUA SEAL, STEVE VOZZELLA AND BRYAN MACFARLANE: Four players in a deaf cornhole league were killed in the shooting at Schemengee's.
Brackett was a FedEx package handler. His father, William Brackett, remembered his son as "a gentle person who wouldn't hurt a fly."
Joshua Seal was an ASL interpreter for Maine's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 briefings during the pandemic.
"I'm still processing. It still doesn't feel real," his wife, Elizabeth Seal, told NBC News.
The Pine Tree Society, which provides support and services for people with disabilities, said in a Facebook post that Seal was the organization's director of interpreting services.
“He was a husband, a father of four and a tireless advocate for the Deaf community. He was committed to creating safe space for Deaf people and was widely known as the ASL interpreter for Dr. Shah’s pandemic briefings,” the statement said, referring to former director of Maine CDC Nirav D. Shah.
Massachusetts native Steve Vozzella attended Beverly School for the Deaf, where the flags were flying at half-staff Friday.
"Those who knew him said he was a really funny guy and a really nice guy," said Stefani Timmons, the school's director. "I believe they said he was a 'wise guy,' in the nicest way possible."
Bryan MacFarlane's mother says he was a "gentle soul," and she has no idea why someone would want to harm so many people.
"I have no words," said Janette Randazzo, MacFarlane's mom. "I don't know why anybody would do that. Innocent people."
She says gun laws need to change.
"Maine should not have loosey-goosey gun laws," she said. "There should be no assault rifles."
ARTHUR STROUT: Arthur Barnard played pool with his son, Arthur Strout, Wednesday night at Schemengees, but Barnard had to get up early and left for the night.
"He says, 'I love you, Dad,'" Barnard recalled. "'I'll call you later.'"
Less than 10 minutes later, as Barnard headed home, he saw police cruisers racing by him.
"I'm glad I had that time with him," said Barnard.
Arthur Strout was a 42-year-old father of five, according to the Globe. In addition to his children, he's survived by his wife, Kristy Walsh, his brother Tyler Barnard said.
TRICIA ASSELIN: Tricia Asselin's mom, Alicia Johnson-Lachance, told NBC News that her daughter was shot and killed at the bowling alley when she went to get her phone to call 911.
Johnson-Lachance says her other daughter was also there Wednesday night but was able to make it out safely.
"They heard some noises, gunshots, but in a bowling alley, you hear a lot of pins and balls so they think nothing at the first two and then it started getting worse," Johnson-Lachance said, adding that her surviving daughter ran out the exit with others, while Tricia decided to go get her phone so she could call 911.
"She got caught, she got shot crossing the room by this brutal man who's horrible," Johnson-Lachance added.
"Tricia is, was the most caring person there was. If somebody needed something, Tricia was always there. Everyone that knew her loved her," she said of her daughter. "I want to hold my baby one more time. I don't care. I want to put her in my arms and hold her. I just want to hold my baby."
PEYTON BREWER-ROSS: Peyton Brewer-Ross worked at the Bath Iron Works, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday.
"All of us at Bath Iron Works are heartbroken to share that we have lost a member of our BIW family. We send our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of our employee Peyton Brewer-Ross, who was killed in Lewiston on Wednesday night. Peyton was a valuable part of our team, a member of the pipe shop test crew and recently assisted in the launch of Hull 523, Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124). Peyton completed the grueling coursework and on-the-job training of BIW’s rigorous apprenticeship program, graduating in 2022. He was hired just five years ago and was making a positive impact on our company. He will be sorely missed."
Ralph Brewer wrote on a GoFundMe page he started that the most important thing in the world to his younger brother was his family. Peyton Brewer-Ross leaves behind his partner, Rachael, and their 2-year-old daughter Elle.
"The loss of Peyton is devastating," Brewer said.
He also spoke with NBC News after the gunman was found dead Friday night, saying, "I can say that I am thankful for the tireless effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement to bring this chapter to a close. Maine can begin the healing process in earnest now.”
KEITH MACNEIR: Keith Macneir's son told NBC News his father was visiting him for his birthday in Lisbon, Maine, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he lived.
On the night of the shooting they were at Schemengees Bar & Grille together. When his son had to leave to attend a union meeting, he asked that he wait for him at the bar.
Keith Macneir's son was gone for an hour or so, and in that time, the shooting happened.
MAXX HATHAWAY: Maxx Hathaway was the loving father of two girls, with a third on the way, his wife, Brenda Hathaway, told the Boston Globe. The Hathaways were at Schemengees Bar and Grille Wednesday night. Brenda Hathaway, who is eight months pregnant, left early when their toddler started getting fussy, but Maxx Hathaway stayed behind to play pool.
His sister Kelsay Hathaway said on a GoFundMe page for the family that her brother was a full-time stay at home dad, and that he was goofy, down to earth, loved to joke around and had an uplifting attitude no matter what. He also loved playing pool, anime and gaming.
Another of Maxx Hathaway's sisters, Courtney Hathaway, shared on Facebook that she's heartbroken her older brother is gone.
"Nothing really prepares you for the sudden and shocking loss of a loved one, especially when it happens in such a tragedy," she wrote. Maxx was such a loving person and it really was something watching him become a father to two girls and there is one on the way. We’re all going to miss him."
THOMAS CONRAD: Thomas Conrad is being remembered for his big smile, his selflessness and how great he was with children, including his young daughter, the Boston Globe reports.
Janet Gabri tells the Globe she was at Just-in-Time with her children when the killer walked in Wednesday night, and that Conrad died trying to stop the shooter.
“He gave all of us extra time to make those split second decisions to get away and save our children,” Gabri said.
RONALD MORIN: Ronald Morin is being remembered for his humor, the Globe reported.
“Probably one of the funniest human beings I’ve ever been around,” friend Justin Pelletier told the Globe.
Morin's daughter-in-law, Allyson Morin, said in a Facebook post that the family is beyond devastated.
Morin leaves behind a wife and two children.
