LEWISTON, Maine — "My friends are gone." A 36-year-old man describes how he escaped after shots rang out at the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley, formerly Sparetime Recreation, on Wednesday night.
Brandon Mullen tells NEWS CENTER Maine that he heard the shots initially but didn't immediately realize it was gunfire. He managed to get out, but is now grieving several close friends who didn't survive.
"I am going to miss them," Brandon said tearfully.
He is mourning several of his friends killed in the shooting rampage at the bowling alley Wednesday night. The Lewiston man was getting ready to play a game when he heard a loud bang, then another one.
"I had my bowling ball in my hand, and I heard a gunshot, and I dropped my bowling ball on the other bowling balls, and I just ran," Brandon explained.
He and other bowlers headed to the closest door away from the gunfire near the entrance.
"They opened the door, and we pushed each other to get out of there," Brandon said.
Brandon ran to a nearby restaurant where others hid in the back of the building. He managed to get home safely only to find that several of his friends had lost their lives, including Tricia Asselin, who worked at the bowling alley. Brandon said he was near the entrance when the alleged gunman, Robert Card, burst through the door. The longtime bowler said while he continues to receive calls and messages of support since the tragedy, he won't be at peace until Card is arrested.
"I just wish that they do something big time to try to find the person who did this," Brandon said, wiping back tears. And until there is justice for his friends, he loved so much.
For more information about the tragedy that happened in Lewiston Wednesday night, click here. You can find more information about the victims here.