The family of Bob Violette, 76, say he died trying to protect a group of kids at the bowling alley.
Image source, Bob Violette familyFamily members have identified some of the victims that were killed after a string of shootings in Maine on Wednesday.
Among them are Bob Violette, a 76-year-old retiree and avid bowler, and bar manager Joseph Walker.
Officials said at least 18 have died, and more than a dozen were injured.
Eight of the deceased have been identified so far, police said, but their names have not been released.
Some family members have since spoken to several media outlets about their loved ones.
Bob Violette, 76
Mr Violette was identified by his daughter-in-law Cassandra. She told the Lewiston Sun Journal that he died protecting a group of children that he was with at the bowling alley.
He leaves behind three sons and six grandchildren, she said. His wife, Lucy, was injured in the attack.
Cassandra described Mr Violette as a life-long Lewiston resident who had deep ties to the community, and who made people around him feel cared for.
“He wouldn’t let you walk out the door without giving him a hug, and a kiss on the cheek. He was just there for everything,” she said.
A former Sears mechanic, Mr Violette devoted his time to bowling in his retirement.
He began running a youth bowling league many years ago, his daughter-in-law said, and even got his eldest grandsons to participate in the game.
He saved up to buy new iPads and iPhones to get good videos of them bowling, Cassandra said.
“He loved those kids, all of them,” she said.
Joseph Walker, 56
Mr Walker’s death was confirmed by father, Leroy Walker, who is a city councillor in Auburn.
His son worked at Schemengees Bar and Grill, one of the locations where the gunman opened fire. He was killed after attempting to go after the gunman, Leroy told ABC News.
In a separate interview with NBC News, Leroy said he received notification of his son’s death 14 hours after the shooting.
“None of us slept, we were up all night,” he said. “We didn’t know where to go, who to run to.”
Police are still searching for the suspected gunman as of Thursday afternoon.