THE victims of Wednesday's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, are beginning to be identified.
The first named victim was a longtime bowling instructor who family members say bravely died protecting children.
Bob Violette, 76, was born and raised in Lewiston and was an avid bowler who took up the sport on most mornings and participated in leagues, his daughter-in-law, Cassandra, told The Sun Journal.
Violette and his wife of almost 50 years, Lucy, took up the sport in retirement because it was something they could do together, family members recalled.
However, Violette became passionate about the sport and began running a youth bowling league at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, previously known as Sparetime.
"He wouldn't let you walk out the door without giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek," Cassandra said, "He was just there for everything."
WEDNESDAY BOWLING NIGHTS
On Wednesdays, the retired Sears mechanic participated in the youth bowling nights, teaching children the sport.
Cassandra said he saved money to buy iPads and iPhones to get good videos of the kids in his league and help them improve.
"He loved those kids, all of them," she recalled.
Violette's wife was also injured in the shooting. Her condition is unknown.
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Employees at the bowling alley remember the retiree as always having a warm presence.
"So kind, and he was always super understanding. He was very patient with everybody," co-worker Brandon Dubuc told Boston's WBZ-TV.
Dubuc said Violette helped with the youth league for as long as he could remember: "There wasn't a kid that he wouldn't help.
"He was just always a warm presence."
Violette is survived by his wife, their three children, Andrew, Tom, and John, and six grandchildren.
PART-TIME EMPLOYEE KILLED
Tricia Asselin, 53, a part-time employee at Just-In-Time Recreation, was shot as she ran to the counter and dialed 911.
"What I'm told is that when it all started happening, she ran up to the counter and started to call 911, and that's when she was shot," Asselin's brother, DJ Johnson, told CNN.
"That was just her. She wasn't going to run. She was going to try and help."
The grieving brother said his baby sister was the rock of the family and kept everyone on an even keel.
"She and I talked probably three or four times a week, and we texted every day," Johnson said.
"Her son was her entire life. From the day he was born to yesterday. She did everything for him… he was her world."
BAR MANAGER IDENTIFIED AS VICTIM
Joseph Walker, the manager at Schemengees Bar and Grille, was one of the eight victims killed at the restaurant.
"Oh boy, right now it's just what are we going to do tomorrow or the next day, and how we're going to handle all this," Leroy, Walker's father, told MSNBC.
Leroy said the family waited more than 14 hours to find out what happened to his son.
"Just totally a nightmare, none of us slept, we were up all night, we didn't know where to go, who to turn to," the heartbroken father added.
"Joe was a great, great son, loving husband. He had two grandchildren and a stepson living at home with him.
"Loved thousands of people, and thousands of people loved him. He started all the sports games that Schemengees was doing for the past few years, he has grown that business tremendously.
"He'd help anybody, work with anybody, turn on any type of tournament that would raise money for any groups.
"A hell of a loss for the community – It's still a nightmare."
The heavy-hearted father revealed he lost his daughter in a car accident over 25 years ago.
REIGN OF TERROR
Maine State Police and federal agents are on the hunt for suspect Robert Card, 40, who they believe carried out the deadly shooting in Lewiston, the state's second-largest city.
Card is considered armed and dangerous, and police have urged locals to be vigilant and warned people not to approach him.
State police have issued an arrest warrant for Card for eight counts of murder. The counts are expected to rise as more victims are identified.
Card's reign of terror began at around 6:56 pm on Wednesday when police received calls about an active shooter in progress at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley.
About 10 minutes later, Maine State Police Colonel William G. Ross said 911 received multiple calls at 7:08 pm about a shooting at Schemengees Bar and Grille, about four miles from the bowling alley.
Ross said eight of the 18 victims have been identified – 10 are still pending identification.
Seven victims – one female and six males – were found at the bowling alley.
Another eight victims were found dead at Schemengees Bar and Grille – seven male victims inside the building and one male outside.
Three more people died at local hospitals, Ross said.
A car found at a boating land in Lisbon, Maine, about eight miles from Lewiston, has been found and is connected to Card, Ross said.
The US Army's public affairs office at the Pentagon confirmed that Card was a sergeant first class in the Army Reserve and trained as a petroleum supply specialist, which involves shipping and storing fuel for military vehicles and aircraft.
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He enlisted in December 2002 and has no combat deployments.
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