‘I Was Laying on My Daughter’: Terror at Maine Bowling Alley Leaves 16 Dead, Dozens Injured in Heartbreaking Mass Shooting
LEWISTON, MAINE — What began as a fun night of youth bowling quickly turned into unimaginable horror when a gunman stormed into a busy bowling alley Wednesday evening, opening fire during a kids’ league event. The mass shooting has left at least 16 people dead and dozens more injured across two locations, authorities confirmed, prompting a massive manhunt for the suspect.
Among the survivors is a mother who shared a chilling account of her desperate attempt to shield her daughter from the hail of bullets. “I was laying on top of my daughter. My mother was laying on top of me,” she told reporters, her voice trembling. “We just kept praying he wouldn’t see us.”
The first shots rang out around 6:45 p.m. at Just-In-Time Recreation, a popular family bowling alley. Within minutes, the scene became one of panic and chaos, with children crying, parents screaming, and people diving behind benches, pins, and tables for cover.
Minutes later, gunfire erupted again at Schemengees Bar and Grille, a restaurant just a few miles away. Authorities believe the two attacks are connected and part of a coordinated act of mass violence by the same suspect.
State and federal agencies have joined local law enforcement in a sweeping manhunt that has gripped the entire state of Maine. As of Thursday morning, the suspect remains at large, and officials are urging residents in the Lewiston area to shelter in place.
Hospitals across the region have been overwhelmed with casualties, and officials warn the death toll may still rise. “We are treating injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening,” said one emergency room physician at Central Maine Medical Center.
President Biden has been briefed on the situation and expressed deep sorrow for the victims and their families. “This senseless violence tears at the fabric of our communities,” the President said in a statement.
Grief counselors have been made available to witnesses, survivors, and families affected by the tragedy. Meanwhile, vigils are already being planned in several Maine towns to honor the lives lost.
As investigators work tirelessly to locate the shooter and piece together a motive, one thing is painfully clear: the lives of families, especially the children who survived this nightmare, will never be the same.
