Maine Vigil Mourns Shooting Victims as Father Learns Son’s Fate From Friends
LISBON FALLS, Maine — A somber vigil was held in Lisbon Falls, Maine, to mourn the 18 victims of a tragic mass shooting. The gathering also witnessed the heartbreaking moment when close friends of one of the victims had to inform his father about his son’s death.
Maxx Hathaway, 35, was fatally shot while playing pool with a friend at Schemengees Bar and Grille, one of the two locations targeted by the gunman, Robert Card. Upon learning the tragic news, Hathaway’s father, Rob, anxiously reached out to his friends, Gary and Donna Totamn.
Gary Totamn recounted the difficult experience, stating, We had to tell him because he didn’t know. He called us and asked what was going on up here and I had the hardest time trying to tell him. (Donna) ended up finally saying it to him that he lost his son. Right after we hung up, he saw the news. He saw his son’s name on the news.
The Totamns, who had taken Maxx and his father on their first fishing trip, wanted to spare Rob from discovering his loss through the media or social platforms. Sadly, the news devastated the family, with Rob initially fearing for the safety of his granddaughters, who fortunately had left the bar just moments before the violence erupted, thanks to their toddler daughter who became fussy.
Hundreds of mourners packed the waterfront in Lisbon Falls to pay their respects during the vigil, held a day after authorities found the body of Robert Card, who had apparently taken his own life.
During the emotional gathering, a pastor read out the names of the victims: Ronald Morin, Peyton Brewer Ross, Joshua Seal, Brian MacFarlane, Joseph Lawrence Walker, Arthur Fred Strout, Maxx Hathaway, Stephen Vozella, Thomas Ryan Conrad, Michael R. Deslauriers II, Jason Adam Walker, Tricia Asselin, William Young, Aaron Young, Robert Violette, Lucille Violette, William Frank Brackett, and Keith Macneir.
Maxx Hathaway’s high school friend, Soleil Gibbs, described him as a truly genuine person, someone who would always reconnect as if no time had passed. Another resident, Jo McDougall, shared memories of her time working with Bob Violette at Sears in the 1980s. She reflected on their tight-knit community and expressed how the senseless tragedy deeply impacted them.
Bob Violette, who was recently honored by the Maine Bowling Hall of Fame, was known for his passion for bowling. He was a beloved instructor and regularly participated in morning bowling sessions. He even had aspirations to go professional at one point.
The vigil concluded with mourners joining together, holding each other tightly, and singing Amazing Grace as a final tribute to the victims.
The discovery of Robert Card’s body at the Maine Recycling Corporation, where he used to work, raised questions about his motives. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee admitted that the circumstances surrounding Card’s suicide at his former workplace remain a mystery. The police had thoroughly searched the area during the two-day manhunt, although they initially missed the gruesome trailer where Card’s body was found.
Chief McGee defended his officers, explaining that both broad and grid pattern searches were conducted in the vast industrial park. He speculated that the pressure from law enforcement containment and limited options in the area might have motivated Card’s decision to take his own life.
The community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy, with the victims’ families left to mourn the loss of their loved ones. The vigil served as a reminder that their memories will live on, as the residents of Lisbon Falls come together to support one another during this devastating time.
