LEWISTON, Maine — It was supposed to be a night of fun competition.
A group of young people gathered at a bowling alley in Lewiston on Wednesday evening for youth league matches. Four miles away, members of a cornhole team for deaf people hosted an evening of games.
But before long, the revelry was interrupted by gunfire.
A shooter unleashed a barrage of bullets on the bowling event at Just-in-Time Recreation, where he killed seven people, before he moved on to Schemengees Bar and Grille about 12 minutes later, where he killed eight more. The death toll stands at 18, including those who died later at hospitals.
“They’re just innocent people out for a night of bowling,” said Kim McConville, whose cousin and his 14-year-old son were killed at the bowling alley. “This was a children’s event. Who expects a shooter to go into a children’s event?”
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Jess Paquette expresses her support for her city Thursday after a mass shooting Wednesday night at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine. Robert F. Bukaty / APAn American pastime turns deadly
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