In Maine, it has been a year since the mass shooting in Lewiston

Friday marks one year since the worst mass shooting in Maine left 18 people dead, 13 injured and countless others terrified.

October 25, 2023 was youth bowling night at Lewiston’s Just-In-Time Recreation. A cornhole tournament was taking place nearby at Schememenges Bar & Grille.

“We just had a normal night at the cornhole,” said Ben Dyer, who was critically injured in the mass shooting in Schemengees.

Dyer was preparing for a game with his friends Ron Morin and Billy Brackett. Moments later, both were among the 18 dead when bullets from a lone gunman ripped through both locations just 12 minutes apart.

“I looked at his face when I lost my finger. He saw me raise my head and wanted to shoot myself in the head. And I put my hands up like this and ducked,” Dyer said. “I was lucky to survive. I really shouldn’t have done that. For some unknown reason I’m still here.

“How many friends did you lose that night?” asked CBS13 reporter Brad Rogers.

“Everyone in the cornhole community was a friend of mine,” Dyer said.

Maxx Hathaway among them. As a young father, he was there in part to celebrate the college diploma he had just received in the mail that day.

“There are people who have come into your life and the light shines when they are gone. And 100% him,” said Kelsay Hathaway, Maxx Hathaway’s older sister. “We talk to him all the time. I mean, I kiss his obituary every morning.

Last year, the mass shooting in Lewiston sparked hearings and debates about missed warning signs, gaps in mental health, gun control and communication with law enforcement.

The shooter, an Army reservist, had been briefly hospitalized in New York just weeks earlier for erratic behavior.

Congress is now pushing the Army to better monitor the mental health and possible brain damage of those working in the munitions industry.

Just a week ago, about 100 survivors and victims’ families filed a new lawsuit against the Army and others, hoping to force more answers.

“This community, this state, our clients deserve accountability,” said Travis Brennan, an attorney for victims of the Lewiston mass shooting.

Elizabeth Seal is among them. Her husband, Joshua Seal, a member of the deaf community, died at the cornhole tournament.

“As soon as justice is served. I think we may be able to begin that healing process, but in the meantime, we will remain Lewiston Strong,” said Elizabeth Seal.

That’s how Dyer feels. He and his fiancée Keela Smith want to honor their friends who died this Friday. But next year they want to take back October 25th and get married on that day.

“You know, we went through hell. But we did it. And let’s move on,” Dyer said.