Survivors of Auburn Shooting Recall Night of Terror as Robert Card Kills 18 at Schemengees Bar & Grille

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Last week in Auburn, Maine, four women narrowly escaped with their lives after a mass shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston. The shooter, Robert Card, killed 18 people that night, leaving the survivors traumatized and searching for answers.

Destiny Johnson, one of the survivors, recalls the surreal moment just before the chaos erupted. She saw Card walk into the bar with a long black gun and watched as he fired shots into the ceiling before aiming towards the bar. Jennifer Zanca, another survivor, remembers the nonstop repetition of shots, while Sue Dostie agrees that there were six distinct shots.

In the weeks that followed the shooting, the survivors have shared their stories with police, loved ones, and friends in an effort to process the traumatic events they experienced. Joyce Michaud, one of the survivors, describes the overwhelming response from those around her who struggle to find the right words or actions to support her. She feels like a “living funeral” to those who can’t fully understand what she went through.

Zanca, who was shot through the shoulder while fleeing, is one of the 13 survivors who sustained injuries during Card’s rampage. Each survivor carries their own unique piece of what happened that night, along with both physical and emotional scars.

The four women, who are friends and golfing buddies, gathered together to share their stories and compare notes. Zanca, known for her organizing skills, brought the group together, while Michaud injected humor into the conversation. Dostie patiently waited her turn to speak, while Johnson, the newest and youngest member of the group, arrived late with her 10-year-old daughter, who could have been with them that night if circumstances had been different.

The decision to go to Schemengees that night was not one the women took lightly. Usually, they would dine at the Firehouse Grill in Auburn or spend time at the Fox Ridge Golf Club. However, Zanca, feeling tired but wanting to include Johnson, suggested they go to Schemengees instead. Little did they know that their decision would lead them into the path of a dangerous shooter.

As Card entered the bar, the women realized something was about to happen, but they had no idea of the extent of the danger they were in. Michaud, with her back turned to Card, initially mistook the sound of gunshots for someone banging on the walls. When she turned around and saw what was happening, she yelled for everyone to hit the floor.

The women managed to escape into a nearby hallway amidst the chaos. Johnson recalls army crawling around a wall, while Michaud remembers crouching and walking cautiously. Dostie, pinned in her corner seat, dove to the floor and hid under her chair, witnessing bodies falling around her but never seeing the shooter’s face.

Michaud, fearing she would be an easy target, split from the group and found safety in a utility closet after the lights were turned off. Johnson and Zanca continued crawling, eventually finding an exit door in the kitchen. They emerged outside and quickly fled the scene, with Johnson driving away in her truck, not looking back until she reached safety.

These four women, like the other survivors, continue to grapple with the trauma of that night. They question why they were there and why they escaped while others did not. Their lives have been forever changed, and they are left with the lasting impact of the shooting.

As the community mourns and tries to heal from this tragedy, the survivors of the Auburn shooting will lean on each other for support and understanding. They will continue to share their stories, hoping to bring awareness to the devastating effects of gun violence and the need for change..