Survivors of Auburn Shooting Share Their Stories: Sue Dostie, Joyce Michaud, Jennifer Zanca, and Destiny Johnson Recall the Night 18 People Were Killed at Schemengees Bar & Grille

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Last week, four women in Auburn narrowly escaped with their lives after a mass shooting at Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston. Robert Card walked into the bar and began shooting, killing 18 people that night. Sue Dostie, Joyce Michaud, Jennifer Zanca, and Destiny Johnson were present during the horrifying attack.

Destiny Johnson recalls the surreal moment just before the shooting began. She saw Card enter the bar with a long, black gun and watched him fire at the ceiling. It was only after he aimed the weapon towards the bar that she realized the danger they were in. Jennifer Zanca and Sue Dostie also vividly remember the sound of six shots ringing out in the bar.

In the weeks following the shooting, the survivors have shared their stories with police, family, and friends. However, they struggle to find the right words to convey the trauma they experienced. Joyce Michaud describes the aftermath as being treated like a “living funeral,” where people hug her but don’t know what to say or do.

Jennifer Zanca was one of the 13 survivors injured during the shooting. Each of the women carries their own unique piece of what happened that night. Zanca’s home in Auburn is now filled with cards and bouquets from well-wishers.

The four women, who usually spend time together golfing or hanging out at local establishments, gathered to share their stories and compare notes. Zanca organized the gathering, while Michaud injected humor into the conversation. Dostie quietly waited for her turn to talk, and Johnson, the newest member of the group, arrived late with her 10-year-old daughter Layle.

The women discuss their near-death experiences and wonder why they had to be at Schemengees that night. They usually frequent other establishments for dinner or spend time at the Fox Ridge Golf Club. However, they decided to go to Schemengees that night because it was closer to the highway.

As the shooting unfolded, the women realized the danger they were in at different moments. Michaud, who had her back turned to Card, mistook the gunfire for someone banging on the walls. When she turned around, she shouted for everyone to hit the floor. Zanca, Michaud, and Johnson managed to escape to a nearby hallway between bursts of gunfire. Dostie, trapped in her seat, dove onto the floor and hid under a chair for protection.

Johnson and Zanca crawled through different rooms, searching for an exit. They eventually found a door to the outside and emerged into the night. Johnson quickly got into her truck and drove away, not knowing where she was going but wanting to put as much distance between herself and the bar as possible.

The women are grateful to have survived the shooting but are haunted by the memories of that night. They are now focused on healing and supporting each other through this difficult time..