Lewiston shooting | “He died a hero”

(Lewiston, Maine) “My son took a knife from the bar and walked towards the killer, who killed him. The police told us: “he died a hero.” I’m proud of him, but he could have walked out the back door and he would never have died. »

Leroy Walker Sr. is mourning his son Joseph, whose life was cut short Wednesday evening in a shooting in a bar in the town of Lewiston, Maine. Aged 57, the father had been the manager of the Shamengees establishment for almost 8 years.

Met in front of the hospital where several victims of the tragedy are still hospitalized, his father admitted that he would have preferred that his son had run away when he heard the gunshots.

“Instead, he tried to save the others. My son was like that, always ready to defend, save and help. So here we are, I lost my son and several others died. »

Authorities are still searching for Robert Card, the alleged perpetrator of the massacre. The latter is said to have killed 18 people and injured 13 others during a shooting which also took place in a bowling alley. Police searches continue a few kilometers from the city, in a small river, using an underwater robot. American media report that the murderer left a suicide note at his home.

Leroy Walker Sr advocates that people struggling with mental health issues receive necessary medical help. He advocates for better gun control, but remains realistic.

“In the state of Maine, there are millions of guns, we won’t be able to make them all disappear,” he said. He would like it to be possible to buy the type of weapon used by the killer “a killing machine”, but for the barrel to be jammed. “Bullets from this type of rifle pass through the body like a knife through butter. » Despite his grief, he agrees to speak to the media to keep the memory of his son, whom he nicknamed Joey, alive.

“I hope it never happens again.” I took the good Lord because the community is crying. I miss my son, I love my son. »