William "Billy" Brackett, a 48-year-old White male, was a beloved member of the deaf community and was known as the "Silent Giant." On the evening of October 25, 2023, he was at Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston, Maine, participating in a cornhole tournament. Tragically, his life was cut short that night in a senseless act of violence that shook the entire state.
The horrific events of that evening began to unfold when a gunman, later identified as 40-year-old Robert Card, opened fire
at two locations in Lewiston. The first attack occurred at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, followed by a second shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille, where Brackett and others were enjoying their evening. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 18 people and left 13 others wounded, making it the deadliest mass shooting in Maine's history. Four of the victims at Schemengees, including Brackett, were deaf and were part of a cornhole tournament for the deaf community.
In the aftermath of the shootings, a massive manhunt was launched for the suspect, Robert Card, an Army reservist who had a history of mental health issues. The search for Card put the community on edge as residents were urged to shelter in place. An arrest warrant was issued for Card on multiple counts of murder. The extensive manhunt involved hundreds of law enforcement officers from local, state, and federal agencies.
The search for the suspect concluded two days later on October 27, 2023, when Robert Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His body was discovered in a tractor-trailer at a recycling center in Lisbon, Maine, where he had previously been employed. No arrests were made as the sole suspect had taken his own life. The investigation later revealed that Card's family had previously warned authorities about his deteriorating mental state and access to firearms.
