Lewiston mass taking pictures suspect used to play cornhole with victims
When Robert R. Card II walked into Schemengees Bar and Grille and opened hearth final Wednesday, he was taking pictures on the very individuals who had as soon as welcomed him into their ranks.
The common Wednesday night time cornhole match was underway at Schemengees when Card allegedly walked in and opened hearth, killing seven individuals within the constructing. Eight individuals had already been killed at Simply-In-Time Recreation the identical night.
Card had final participated in video games and tournaments with members of the cornhole leagues at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at different Maine venues a couple of yr in the past.
“I knew Card,” Nick Wilson, founding father of Maine Occasion Cornhole membership in Saco, mentioned. “He was like each different cornhole participant — somebody you’ll see and say ‘hey, how’s it going?’ and shoot the breeze with whereas on the bar getting a drink.”
Now, members of Maine’s cornhole neighborhood are coming to phrases with the information it was certainly one of their very own behind the state’s worst mass taking pictures in trendy historical past.
It had been a minimum of a yr since Wilson had seen Card out taking part in in any tournaments, and mentioned it appeared Card had began withdrawing from the cornhole neighborhood a couple of yr and a half in the past.
“I didn’t have a relationship with him like with among the different guys,” Wilson mentioned. “But when he walked by me I’d acknowledge him and say ‘hello.’”
Wilson mentioned he is aware of eight of the cornholers who made it out alive that night time. Among the many ones who didn’t survive was Peyton Brewer-Ross.
“I knew Peyton and he’s one of many nicest guys you possibly can ask for,” Wilson mentioned. “I’ve performed in round-robin tournaments with him and socialized with him.”
As a substitute of specializing in Card, Wilson mentioned members of the cornhole neighborhood are absolutely occupied with caring for their buddies.
“The eight I knew that managed to outlive and the others who misplaced family members are those we’re touching base with,” Wilson mentioned. “We wish to be sure they know there are folks that care about them.”
None of it has been straightforward, he mentioned.
“It’s been hugs and being collectively,” Wilson mentioned. “It’s speaking about [the shooting] and speaking about little league and soccer.”
Wilson describes those that play in cornhole leagues as household.
“Everybody from cornhole, and I imply everybody, are probably the most giving and caring individuals,” Wilson mentioned. “We don’t care about your age, we don’t care about your gender, we don’t care about your race or regardless of the hell your background is — we simply all get collectively to throw some luggage and shoot the breeze.”
Members from the Maine cornhole neighborhood gathered at Wilson’s Saco residence the night time after the shootings — as they do each Thursday — to just do that.
the most recent on the lewiston mass taking pictures
Tragedy in Lewiston
Learn our full protection concerning the mass taking pictures in Lewiston and the aftermath.
“We threw luggage and we have been with one another,” Wilson mentioned. “I do know that occurred with different golf equipment at different houses as a result of [the shootings] weren’t going to cease us from doing what we do.”
Golf equipment from across the nation are reaching out providing emotional and monetary help to the survivors and households of the victims. Right here in Maine, golf equipment are organizing occasions to boost their very own funds for the households.
“We need to take this tragedy and switch it into one thing terrific,” Wilson mentioned. “Proper now it’s a bunch of grieving cornhole individuals coming collectively to verify these households are taken care of.”
Like so many affected by final week’s taking pictures, Wilson and his fellow cornholers need to the time when some sense of normalcy returns to their lives.
“We’re very resilient,” Wilson mentioned. “We grieve collectively and we throw collectively, that’s what defines us.”
