On a tragic Wednesday evening, October 25, 2023, the life of Lucille Violette, a 73-year-old Caucasian female from Lewiston, Maine, was unexpectedly cut short. She and her husband of many years, Bob Violette, were at Just-In-Time Recreation, a local bowling alley where they were well-known and beloved figures. The couple was reportedly there for a youth bowling league night, an activity they were passionately involved in.
It was during this ordinary evening that a gunman opened fire, forever altering the lives of many in the Lewiston community. Lucille was one of 18 victims who lost their lives in a senseless act of violence that spanned two locations in the city.
Lucille was a dedicated and long-serving employee of the Lewiston Public Schools, where she worked as a secretary in the business office for 52 years. Her colleagues remembered her as a quiet, kind, and steady presence who was always helpful. She was known for her gentle demeanor and the calming effect she had on those around her. Beyond her professional life, she was a devoted wife, mother to three sons, and a doting grandmother to six grandchildren. Her family was the center of her world, and she cherished the time she spent with them. She was also an animal lover and was known for her patience and kindness towards them.
The perpetrator of this devastating mass shooting was identified as Robert Card, a 40-year-old man from Bowdoin, Maine. Following the attacks, a massive manhunt was launched to locate him. The search came to an end two days later when Card was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at a recycling facility in Lisbon, Maine. While the community was left to grapple with the immense loss and trauma, there were no arrests to be made in connection with the deaths of Lucille Violette and the other victims, as the sole suspect had taken his own life. The motive behind the horrific events was not immediately clear, leaving a community to mourn and search for answers in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy.
