One Year Later – Remembering and Reflecting on the Lewiston Mass Shooting

Maine (WABI) – Flags were flown at half-staff on Friday as Maine marks one year since the deadliest mass shooting in state history.

On October 25, 2023, a gunman entered the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley and a cornhole tournament hosted by Schemengees Bar & Grill. That night, 18 people lost their lives, including a 14-year-old and his father, a shipyard worker and a sign language interpreter. Several victims died while trying to kill the shooter.

Many more were injured in mass shootings, and the entire state bears the emotional toll of that day.

A number of commemorative events are planned across the state on Friday. The largest gatherings are expected at the Colisée, the city’s hockey arena, where moments of silence will be in effect during the shootout.

The event is presented by the One Lewiston Resilience Fund Committee, the City of Lewiston, the Maine Resiliency Center and the Los Angeles Metro Chamber of Commerce. The event will honor those affected by the shootings and those who continue to support the community. The event will include music, performances, remarks and information about the construction of a permanent memorial.

The memorial starts at six o’clock on Friday evening.

Governor Mills issued an announcement We pay tribute to the victims, families and survivors of the tragedy, Maine’s deaf and hard of hearing community, law enforcement, health care workers and everyday Mainers.

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden released the following statement today on the one-year anniversary of the Lewiston shooting on October 25, which left 18 innocent people dead:

“One year ago, the unthinkable happened in Lewiston when a gunman opened fire in a bowling alley and restaurant, shaking the community and the state of Maine to its core,” the Delegation said. “For days, families hid in their homes as law enforcement worked to track down the shooter. We are grateful for the diligence and courage that put an end to this nightmare and allowed our country to start working despite the agony and destruction. But the seats at the kitchen table remain empty, and 18 Mainers are absent from the lives of their friends and families. Others wounded on that terrible day are still recovering. As we continue to grapple with this pain, we renew our commitment to help each other, to remember the victims and the lives that were forever changed on that day, and to heal.”

Other events scheduled for Friday-

Trinity Church in Lewiston is hosting a time of remembrance, lament, hope and rededication at 11 a.m. The church is located at 247 Bates St.

Prince of Peace Paris will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Holy Family, 607 Sabattus St. in Lewiston for prayer and quiet reflection. This will include a short prayer and the ringing of bells. The Holy Hour will be celebrated during the shooting. The Holy Hour is a time of silence and prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. We invite everyone to stop and pray.

Love Lewiston Week with Tree Street Youth will feature efforts to spread kindness and show love to the community. The campaign runs from October 25 to November 1, and people are encouraged to raise blue hearts, plan service projects and perform random acts of kindness.