Lewiston is gathering to commemorate one year since a deadly mass shooting rocked the Maine town

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — With flags lowered across the state, Maine residents whose sense of security was shattered last year by a mass shooting marking Friday’s anniversary planned in ways big and small, including a planned memorial service.

The killing of 18 people by an Army reservist in Lewiston highlighted the stark reality that no corner of the country is safe from gun violence, even in a state where people often boast about low crime rates.

The largest gathering was expected at the city’s hockey arena, where there were expected to be moments of silence at the time of the shooting.

Community has become an important part of the grieving process since the shootings, Elizabeth Seal said through a sign language interpreter at an event with victims and survivors last week. Seal’s husband, Joshua Seal, was killed in the shooting.

“Once justice is served, I think we can perhaps begin the healing process,” Seal said through the interpreter. “But in the meantime, we remain ‘Lewiston Strong’.”

Seal and dozens of other survivors and relatives of victims recently began the formal process of suing the U.S. Army for what they say was its failure to stop 40-year-old reservist Robert Card.

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

Justin Juray, owner of the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley where the shooting began, said the venue would close for a day on Friday so employees could be with their families. He said it’s been a tough week as the anniversary approaches, and Friday will be particularly tough.

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

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.

The shooter’s family and other Army reservists reported that he was suffering from a nervous breakdown. After the shooting, the Maine Legislature passed new gun laws that strengthened the state’s “yellow flag” law, criminalized the transfer of guns to prohibited persons and expanded funding for mental health crisis treatment.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said the healing isn’t over.

“As we continue the long and difficult road to recovery, let us remember that we are not alone, we are ‘Lewiston Strong’ and that together we will continue to heal,” she said.

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