Maine shooting: Father-of-four and 14-year-old boy among victims

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2023

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The 18 people who were killed in a mass shooting in the US state of Maine have been named by officials.

The suspect, Robert Card, is believed to have killed seven people at Just-In-Time Recreation, and a further eight people at Schemengees Bar and Grille.

Three more people died after being taken to local hospitals.

Among the dead are a father and son, a volunteer bowling coach and a manager at the bar, which the suspect is reported to have visited before.

All of the victims were named by public safety commissioner Mike Sauschuck during a press conference on Friday. Some had earlier been publicly identified by friends and relatives.

Joseph ‘Joey’ Walker, 57

Mr Walker was an employee at Schemengees Bar and Grille who lived in nearby Auburn, Maine.

His father, Leroy Walker, told NBC News he was a beloved husband, father and grandfather who was helping to raise two grandchildren and a stepson.

He described his son as being close to family, having lived near two of his brothers.

He regularly organised fundraisers for local causes and had been planning a cornhole tournament to help veterans when he was shot and killed.

Cornhole is a lawn game popular in North America in which players or teams take turns throwing fabric bean bags at a raised, angled board with a hole in its far end.

Although he did not personally know the suspect, Mr Walker said his son had seen Card in the bar before the shooting.

Bob and Lucille Violette, 76 and 73

As a retiree, Mr Violette volunteered as a coach of a youth bowling league team. He was with the youth league at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley when the shooting happened.

Mrs Violette, 73, was also killed.

Tricia Asselin, 53

The 53-year-old mother worked at the bowling alley part-time, but was there on a night out with her sister at the time of the incident.

At the time, she was trying to call 911 when the gunman shot and killed her, Ms Asselin’s brother told CNN. Her sister survived the attack.

“She wasn’t going to run,” Mr Johnson said. “She was going to try and help.”

Michael Deslauriers II and Jason Walker, both 51

Writing on social media, Mr Deslauriers’s father confirmed his son and his son’s friend, Mr Walker, were shot and killed at the bowling alley.

Michael Deslauriers Sr, chairman of a local historical society, said his son and his friend died while protecting their wives and young children who were also present.

“I have the hardest news for a father to ever have to share,” he said.

“They made sure their wives and several young children were under cover then they charged the shooter.”

It is believed the two men were volunteers at the historical society.

Peyton Brewer-Ross, 40

Mr Brewer-Ross was also taking part in a cornhole tournament at Schemengees Bar and Grille when he was killed, his brother Ralph Brewer told CNN.

His brother said he loved playing cornhole and enjoyed hanging out with friends at the venue.

“It’s just surreal and sad. Now my brother is not here anymore along with 17 other people,” he said.

“He is the nicest person you would ever meet. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone.”

He said his brother “loved being a dad more than anything else”, and recently celebrated his daughter Elle’s second birthday.

“At two years old, she isn’t going to remember any of this, but in the same breath, she isn’t going to have her dad be there the rest of her life,” he said.

He added: “We are walking around in a daze not knowing what to say, what to do, or how to act, because of a senseless shooting. “It’s so unbelievable that this can continue to happen over and over again and nothing changes.”

Bill and Aaron Young, 44 and 14

The father and son – who was aged just 14 – were killed at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, where they had been on a night out with their bowling league. This is according to Mr Young’s brother, Rob.

Before learning about their deaths, he had flown from Baltimore to Lewiston in Maine to help his sister-in-law find any information about the pair, who she had not heard from since they went to the bowling alley.

Bryan MacFarlane, 41

He was part of a group from the deaf community, taking part in a cornhole tournament at Schemengees Bar & Grille when he was killed, his sister Keri Brooks told CNN.

He was an avid motorcyclist who loved his dog, M&M, and had recently moved back to Maine, she said.

Joshua Seal, 36

The father-of-four was confirmed dead by his wife Elizabeth Seal in a Facebook post.

She described him as the “world’s best father” and a “wonderful husband”, and also her “best friend” and “soulmate”.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you all that Joshua Seal has passed away… no, he was murdered, in the 10/25 shooting in Lewiston. It still feels surreal,” she wrote.

Referring to their children, she said Mr Seal “loved spending time with them, travelling, going for a day trip to the beach, or going camping for the weekend”.

“He loved his family and always put them first. That is what he will always be remembered for. We love and miss you so so much already,” she added.

The other victims named by officials were:

William ‘Billy’ Brackett, 48

Thomas Conrad, 34

Maxx Hathaway, 35

Keith Macneir, 64

Ronald Morin, 55

Arthur Strout, 42

Stephen Vozzella, 45

US

National Guard to be deployed to LA immigration ‘riots’ – as Trump claims state officials ‘can’t do their jobs’

Published

21 hours ago

June 8, 2025

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National Guard to be deployed to LA immigration 'riots' - as Trump claims state officials 'can't do their jobs'

The National Guard will be deployed to Los Angeles after “riots” in response to immigration raids extended into a second day.

California Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the Trump administration is deploying “2,000 soldiers” to Los Angeles after local police used tear gas, stun guns, and riot shields to push back immigration protesters on Saturday.

Demonstrations began outside the Los Angeles Federal Building in the downtown area of LA on Friday after officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out raids in the area.

On Saturday, several dozen protesters were involved in police standoffs in Paramount, a city south of LA.

Mr Newsom warned in a post on X: “The federal government is sowing chaos so they can have an excuse to escalate. That is not the way any civilized country behaves.”

He described the deployment as “purposefully inflammatory” and claimed it will “only escalate tensions”.

President Donald Trump hit back at Mr Newsom in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.

“If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!,” he wrote.

Mr Trump’s defence secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that active duty marines would also be mobilised if “violence continues”.

LA mayor Karen Bass said that amid the recovery from this year’s wildfires, “many in our community are feeling fear” following “recent federal immigration enforcement actions” across LA County.

“We’ve been in direct contact with officials in Washington, D.C., and are working closely with law enforcement to find the best path forward,” she said.

“Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but let me be clear: violence and destruction are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Reports the guard would be deployed to LA came earlier on Saturday, from Mr Trump’s border tsar Tom Homan on Fox News.

44 arrested in Friday raids

At least 44 people were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations during raids on Friday, with crowds of around “1,000 rioters” forming around the building before some “assaulted law enforcement officers, slashed tires, and defaced taxpayer-funded property”, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The raids saw street vendors and day workers rounded up across Home Depots, a clothing factory, and a warehouse, Salas of Chirla (The Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles) said.

In a statement on Saturday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “violent mobs” had “attacked ICE officers and federal law enforcement agents carrying out basic deportation operations”.

She described such activity as “essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States”.

Ms Leavitt said Californian politicians were “feckless” and had “completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens”, prompting Mr Trump’s order to send in the guard.

Protests spread to second city

On Saturday, protests spread to the Paramount area, where there is a significant Latino population, after demonstrators spotted ICE employees in a Home Depot car park they appeared to be using as a base.

Law enforcement officers faced off protesters at a road junction at around 5pm where a car had been set on fire earlier in the day.

The roads were pictured strewn with trolleys and rubbish bins set on fire, as gas canisters and fireworks were also set off.

Commenting on Saturday’s protests, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office said: “It appeared that federal law enforcement officers were in the area, and that members of the public were gathering to protest.”

Vice President JD Vance claimed that “insurrectionists” were seen “carrying foreign flags” and “attacking immigration enforcement officers” in Paramount.

“One half of America’s political leadership has decided that border enforcement is evil,” he posted on X. “Time to pass President Trump’s beautiful bill and further secure the border.”

The clashes come amid Trump’s nationwide crackdown on illegal migration.

As soon as he was re-elected in January he set a target of arresting 3,000 suspected illegal migrants per day – and promised to lock down the US-Mexico border.

US

Elon Musk post claiming that Donald Trump appears in Epstein files removed from X

Published

1 day ago

June 7, 2025

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Elon Musk post claiming that Donald Trump appears in Epstein files removed from X

Elon Musk’s social media post claiming Donald Trump is in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has been removed.

The tech billionaire made the allegation on X as he traded blows with the US president in a dramatic public row.

In the post, which now appears to have been deleted, Musk said: “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.

“Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”

He gave no evidence for the claim, which was dismissed by the White House – with the post disappearing from his social media platform by Sunday.

Users clicking on the message – first posted on Thursday – were instead greeted with: “Hmm…this page doesn’t exist. Try searching for something else.”

Epstein killed himself in his jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

Musk and Mr Trump’s relationship broke down publicly on Thursday, just days after the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive left his role as a special government employee.

In a fiery exchange, Musk posted a series of messages on X criticising the president’s signature tax and spending bill as a “big ugly spending bill”.

President Trump posted on Truth Social, saying Musk had been “wearing thin” and claimed he “asked him to leave” his government position – something Musk denied.

Musk then hit back with his claim about the US president appearing in the Epstein files.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the comment in a statement.

“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” she said.

“The president is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”

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The spat hit Tesla shares, which closed down 14.3% on Thursday, losing about $150bn (£111bn) in value.

In an interview with ABC News, Mr Trump was asked about reports a phone call was scheduled between him and Musk on Friday.

He reportedly said: “You mean the man who has lost his mind?”

US

Trump says Musk has ‘lost his mind’ – as president considering selling his Tesla

Published

2 days ago

June 6, 2025

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Trump says Musk has 'lost his mind' - as president considering selling his Tesla

Donald Trump has said Elon Musk has “lost his mind”, according to US media, as the White House reveals the president is not interested in speaking to him.

In a phone interview with ABC News, the US president was asked about reports that a phone call was scheduled on Friday between Musk and himself.

“You mean the man who has lost his mind?” he is said to have responded.

A White House official has said Mr Trump is not interested in talking to his former ally amid a bitter feud between the two, adding that no phone call is planned for the day.

It comes as a source familiar with the situation has told Sky News the president is considering selling his Tesla, in a further sign that no resolution to the explosive bust-up is in sight.

Mr Trump purchased a Tesla earlier this year, describing the company as Elon’s “baby”.

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The pair’s relationship broke down publicly on Thursday, just days after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk left his role as a special government employee.

In a fiery exchange, Musk posted a series of messages on X criticising the president’s signature tax bill as a “big ugly spending bill”.

President Trump posted on Truth Social that Musk had been “wearing thin” and claimed he “asked him to leave” his government position, something Musk denied.

Elon Musk then hit back, alleging the president “is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”

He gave no evidence for the claim, and it was dismissed by the White House.

In a statement, it called the bust-up an “unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”

The bill at the centre of the spat was passed by the House Republicans in May and has been described by the president as a “big, beautiful bill”.

The president said to reporters in the White House on Thursday that Musk “knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here”.

“He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem and he only developed the problem when he found out we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate.”

Musk then denied this, saying: “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”

The spat hit Tesla shares, which closed down 14.3% on Thursday, losing about $150bn (£111bn) in value.

Musk also said SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately” after Mr Trump threatened to cancel government contracts with Musk’s businesses.

Hours after issuing his threat, however, Musk heeded advice from X users telling him to “cool down” and posted: “Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon”.

The row between two of the most powerful men in America comes a week after Musk left his position in the government, where he spearheaded a controversial cost-cutting department, DOGE – the Department of Government Efficiency.