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

End to longest US government shutdown one step closer – as Democrats face backlash

Published

22 hours ago

November 11, 2025

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End to longest US government shutdown one step closer - as Democrats face backlash

An end to the longest US government shutdown in history is one step closer after Senate Democrats broke with their party to strike a deal with the Republicans.

Senators backed by 60 votes to 40 legislation to end the impasse, though it still needs approval from the House of Representatives – and sign-off by President Donald Trump.

He has indicated he is happy with the agreement, though, which would restore funding for federal agencies that have gone without since 1 October.

It would also prevent any further layoffs until 30 January, but does not satisfy Democrat demands regarding health care insurance for millions of Americans.

Health care was at the heart of the dispute that led to the shutdown.

The Democrats had refused to support a Republican budget plan unless tax credits that made medical insurance cheaper for millions of people were renewed.

The willingness of eight moderate Democrats to break the Senate deadlock without that guarantee has provoked fury among many in the party.

Some are now calling on Senate Minority Chuck Schumer to be replaced because he is “no longer effective”.

California Governor Gavin Newsom – regarded as a contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination – said: “Pathetic. This isn’t a deal. It’s surrender.”

On Monday morning, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune had urged politicians to work together to break a stalemate that had lasted for more than 40 days.

He said: “The American people have suffered for long enough. Let’s not pointlessly drag this bill out.”

The shutdown began on 1 October – with 670,000 federal government employees furloughed or left with no choice but to work without pay.

SNAP, a food aid programme used by 42 million Americans, has been frozen – with thousands of flights cancelled at dozens of major airports.

Mr Trump has told air traffic controllers to get back to work, threatening anyone who doesn’t with “docked” pay.

The funding package now heading to the House of Representatives only lasts through to 30 January, making it a relatively short-term solution that will require further negotiation.

US

Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1bn over speech edit

Published

1 day ago

November 11, 2025

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Trump threatens to sue BBC for bn over speech edit

Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn over edits the organisation made last year to one of his speeches.

The organisation has been engulfed in a crisis, forced to apologise on Monday after two of its most senior figures, including the director-general, resigned on Sunday night.

The defamation claim centres around a BBC Panorama documentary, which aired October 2024 and showed an edited speech made by Mr Trump before the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, in which he appeared to tell his supporters he was going to walk with them to the US Capitol and “fight like hell”.

In a letter dated 9 November, Florida-based lawyer Alejandro Brito set the BBC a deadline of 10pm UK time on Friday to respond, outlining three demands:

• Issue a “full and fair retraction” of the documentary
• Apologise immediately
• “Appropriately compensate” the US president

He told the BBC it needed to “comply” or face being sued for $1bn.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We will review the letter and respond directly in due course.”

‘Error of judgement’

On Monday, BBC chairman Samir Shah, one of the most senior figures still standing, apologised for the “error of judgement” in editing the video.

In a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee of MPs, Mr Shah said Mr Trump’s speech was edited in a way that gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action”.

“The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement,” he added.

Director-general and head of BBC News resign

Concerns about the edited speech first came to light in a leaked memo from Michael Prescott, a former journalist and independent adviser to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Board.

As a result, BBC director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness announced their resignations on Sunday evening, saying in emails to staff that mistakes had been made.

Mr Davie will address an all-staff meeting on Tuesday. While on her way into the Broadcasting House on Monday morning, Ms Turness defended the corporation, rejecting accusations of institutional bias.

Downing St stands by BBC – but chancellor says ‘lessons to be learned’

A spokesperson for the prime minister told reporters on Monday that the BBC wasn’t corrupt or institutionally biased.

Instead, they said it had a “vital role” to play in the modern age, but needed to ensure it acted “to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves also stood by the corporation, but said that “lessons do need to be learned”.

‘Nothing but an apology’

Veteran broadcaster and former BBC presenter Jonathan Dimbleby told Sky News, however, that the organisation owed the US president nothing more than an apology.

But former legal correspondent for the BBC Joshua Rozenberg also told Sky News that he believed the corporation would “very likely” consider settling with Trump.

Mr Trump’s attack on the BBC is the latest in a long string of multibillion-dollar battles he’s engaged with various media institutions.

US

Trump hosts Syrian president al Sharaa at historic Oval Office meeting

Published

1 day ago

November 11, 2025

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Trump hosts Syrian president al Sharaa at historic Oval Office meeting

Former al Qaeda commander and now Syrian leader Ahmed al Sharaa has been welcomed by Donald Trump to the White House.

It was the first visit to the Oval Office by a Syrian head of state since the country gained independence in 1946.

Mr Sharaa, 43, who once had a $10m US bounty on his head, led rebel forces that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad last December, and was named interim leader in January.

The US president called Mr al Sharaa a “very strong leader” after their meeting and suggested the US would work to help the country succeed.

“He comes from a very tough place,” Mr Trump said, adding Mr al Sharaa is a “tough guy” and “I like him”.

Mr Sharra has “had a rough past”, but added, “we’ve all had a rough past”, he added.

Mr Trump has become one of the Syrian president’s more enthusiastic backers, considering the nation of strategic importance.

He didn’t provide any policy details about the meeting, but said “we’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful because that’s part of the Middle East”.

Read more: Why this meeting is a big deal

‘What the hell are we doing?’

Mr al Sharaa was greeted by a cheering crowd of supporters, some waving Syrian flags, upon his arrival on Monday.

But not everyone was overjoyed at the historic meeting.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a self-proclaimed “Islamophobe” who wields influence in Mr Trump’s MAGA movement, posted on X that Mr al Sharaa was “the ISIS ‘President’ of Syria”.

“What the hell are we doing?” she wrote of his White House visit.

Days before the meeting, Mr Trump told reporters “a lot of progress has been made” on Syria and Mr al Sharaa was “doing a very good job”.

Last week, the US voted to lift a series of sanctions on the Syrian president and members of his government.

Mr al Sharaa is hoping for a permanent repeal of sanctions placed on Syria for allegations of human rights abuses by Assad’s government and security forces – but congressional action would be needed for a permanent repeal.

Mr Trump and Mr al Sharaa first met in May in Saudi Arabia. At the time, the US president described Mr al Sharaa as a “young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past, very strong past. Fighter”.

Monday’s meeting came after Syria launched raids against Islamic State cells.

It was the first official encounter between the US and Syria since 2000, when then president Bill Clinton met Hafez Assad.