On a crisp autumn evening in Lewiston, Maine, the life of Arthur "Artie" Fred Strout, a 42-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short. On October 25, 2023, Strout was at Schemengees Bar and Grill, a place where he often enjoyed playing pool with family and friends. That night, he was practicing for an upcoming game in his competitive pool league.
Earlier in the evening, Arthur had been shooting pool with his father, Arthur Barnard.
Barnard left the bar, and Strout had initially planned to leave with him but decided to stay for one more game. Tragically, less than ten minutes after his father's departure, a gunman named Robert Card entered the establishment and opened fire. Strout was near the door and was likely one of the first people shot. In total, the gunman killed eight people at Schemengees, shortly after killing ten others at a nearby bowling alley.
For seventeen agonizing hours, Strout's family held onto hope, initially receiving incorrect information that he might be at a local hospital. The devastating confirmation eventually came that he was among the deceased at the bar. The horrific event left his wife, Kristy, and their blended family of five children to grapple with an unimaginable loss. Described as a fun-loving and caring man with a goofy giggle, Strout was remembered for his deep devotion to his family, always making time for them, whether it was wrestling with his kids or driving them to school.
The man responsible for the devastating loss of life, Robert Card, was the subject of a massive manhunt following the shootings. He was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The community was left to mourn the 18 victims of the deadliest mass shooting in Maine's history, including Arthur Strout, a beloved husband, father, son, and friend.
