COLUMBIA, S.C. — With the suspected shooter, Robert Card, now dead, one woman in Maine shared her experiences over the last few days.
Investigators say Card, an Army reservist, terrorized the small community of Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, shooting large groups at a bowling alley and a bar. A motive remains unclear.
The shooting claimed the lives of 18 people ranging in age from 14 to 76.
Those who live in the surrounding areas of Lewiston, like Somer Welch, have been under a local shelter-in-place. Welch says the last few days have been unimaginable.
"The grocery stores are closed, the doctor's offices are closed, people are online talking about how they can't get their medication because the pharmacies are closed, we're constantly hearing helicopters overhead which is a constant reminder that this just happened," Welch said.
Her family lives in the Brunswick area, around 20 miles from Lewiston. Welch says her in-laws live just two miles from the boat landing where Card's car was found.
"The first night I stayed up all night, I slept on the couch in 20 to 30-minute increments watching the news… We're on high alert, there's woods right behind my house," Welch said.
Her mother, Valli Finney, lives in Sumter and says the uneasiness was shared.
"It's been tough, but like I said she and I talk at least 4-5 days a week and we're constantly texting," Finney said.
The shelter-in-place has been lifted, and law enforcement will give another briefing Saturday at 10 a.m. as the community grieves.