Fear, Shock, and Unity: A Lewiston Resident’s Emotional Reaction to the Maine Mass Shooting

Since last night at approximately 7 pm, the city of Lewiston, Maine, has been holding its breath. In the fear-stricken silence of our city, it's impossible to find words, but I feel compelled to speak.

My name is Lizzy Snyder, I am a host of Matt & Lizzy in The Morning on 92 Moose, and I proudly live among a resilient community, but we now have been altered forever.

On October 25, multiple law enforcement agencies responded to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine. This is being referred to as a mass shooting.

I never imagined this nightmare unfolding within our own circles, touching our 37,000-plus residents. We are all trying to process this and are bound together, glued to our screens and police scanners app, waiting to breathe until it's over.

The names of the victims have yet to be released, leaving us all with hearts too heavy for words.

News Center Maine reported that in 2022 there were 29 homicides in Maine and in one night, many souls have been confirmed dead. That staggering revelation hangs over our heads and crushes us all.

All we can do right now is continue to talk to each other.

Allow me to share the events of last night from my perspective as a Lewiston resident, 2 miles from where it all began.

My wife and I lay in bed, unaware of the impending tragedy until our phones lit up urgently, with many people asking if we were okay.

As the reality hit us, the overwhelming presence of 30-plus police officers and SWAT teams rushing down our street was a sight never to be forgotten.

Sparetime Recreation, which is the bowling alley on Mollison Way, is a stone's throw away from our neighborhood, and that is reported to be the epicenter of this situation.

I will never forget the never-ending wailing of sirens screaming throughout the night. We then noticed a piercing spotlight above our neighborhood, a helicopter with its spotlight shining and scouting the area for the suspect.

Fear. Shock. Sadness. Adrenaline, All the feelings clung to our bodies.

Our law enforcement officers are still tirelessly searching for the suspect as of right now, at 10:30 a.m.

The victims. A tidal wave of anger just takes over my body and fury boils inside of me so profoundly because this tragedy should never have been.

Tears flow and do not stop and as I even begin to imagine the ordeal those souls endured during those last fateful moments, I fail to breathe.

All I can muster is this: I stand beside you, and our city will come together to cradle your families, holding you, with the power and warmth of our love.

On October 25, 2023, Lewiston, Maine changed forever, and the day will be a date etched in history but, one unwavering truth persists: We Are Lewiston Strong. 

Love,

Lizzy Snyder, Proud Lewiston Resident