In the fall of 2023, the city of Lewiston, Maine, was irrevocably altered by a devastating act of violence that claimed the lives of 18 individuals. Among them was Joshua Alfred Seal, a 36-year-old White male, whose life was cut short on the evening of October 25th. A pillar in the deaf community and a devoted family man, his absence has left a profound void.
On that Wednesday evening, Joshua Seal was at Schemengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, participating in a cornhole tournament with
friends. It was a familiar and cherished weekly gathering for him and others from the deaf community. The evening took a horrific turn when a gunman, later identified as 40-year-old Robert Card, an Army reservist from Bowdoin, Maine, entered and opened fire. The attack at Schemengees was the second of two shootings orchestrated by Card that night, the first having occurred minutes earlier at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley. In total, 18 people were killed and 13 others were wounded in the rampage.
The aftermath of the shootings plunged Lewiston and the surrounding areas into a state of fear and uncertainty as a massive manhunt for Robert Card was launched. Law enforcement agencies, including local and state police as well as federal agents, scoured the region. Residents were urged to shelter in place as authorities worked to locate the heavily armed and dangerous suspect. An arrest warrant was issued for Card on multiple counts of murder.
The intensive search for the suspect concluded two days later, on the evening of October 27th. Robert Card was found dead in a tractor-trailer at a recycling center in Lisbon, Maine, where he had previously been employed. His death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The discovery of Card's body brought an end to the manhunt, but it did little to ease the grief of a community grappling with an immense loss. In the wake of the tragedy, stories of Joshua Seal's contributions as an American Sign Language interpreter, his advocacy for the deaf community, and his love for his wife and four children have been shared widely, painting a picture of a man whose life was dedicated to connection and service.
