GUNMAN TARGETS BOWLING CENTER AND BAR IN MAINE

The unimaginable became achingly real on the evening of Oct. 25 when a man with a history of mental illness, 40-year-old Robert Card, went on a shooting spree in Lewiston, Maine, that left 18 people dead and 13 others wounded.

Card entered Just-in-Time Recreation, formerly known as Sparetime, shortly before 6 p.m. and randomly opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle while a youth bowling league was in progress. He then drove to a nearby restaurant and bar called Schemengees, where he continued shooting, and fled before police arrived.

Members of the Just-in-Time Recreation family who were killed:

• Bill and Aaron Young. Bill, 44, had taken his son Aaron, 14, to the bowling center that evening for the youth league. Associated Press reported that Aaron, a high school freshman, was an avid bowler.

• Robert and Lucille Violette. Robert, 76, was a long-time volunteer youth coach. His wife Lucille, 73, supported her husband’s efforts and was an avid league bowler.

• Michael Deslauruers II and Jason Walker. Both 51, Deslauruers and Walker were best friends who made sure their wives and children were safe before charging Card. Both were shot and killed. 

• Tricia Asselin. Asselin, 53, tried to call 911 when the shooting started, but was shot by the gunman. She worked parttime at the center and had the evening off, but decided to go bowling with her sister.

• Thomas Conrad. The center’s general manager was remembered by a co-worker for “his love of the kids,” working hard to make sure each youngster who visited the center had a great time. Conrad was focused on building the next generation of bowlers. He was 34.

“None of this seems real, but unfortunately it is,” wrote Just-in-Time Recreation on Facebook  the day following the shootings. “We are devastated for our community and our staff. We lost some amazing and whole-hearted people from our bowling family and community last night. There are no words to fix this or make it better. We are praying for everyone who has been affected by this horrific tragedy. We love you all and hold you close in our hearts.”

To help impacted families, the center was selling specially designed jerseys that included the “Lewiston strong” message and an illustration of a bowling pin with an angel’s wings.